Old and newer masters — Art and antiques
Hans Rottenhammer or Johannes Rottenhammer was a German painter and master of cabinet genre paintings.
After completing his studies as court painter to the Munich royal court, Rottenhammer spent nearly a decade in Venice, and his art bears the influence of Venetian masters such as Tintoretto and Veronese. Rottenhammer opened a studio in the city and attracted patrons and collectors as well as students and followers. In the early 1600s he joined the guild of Venetian artists. It was in Venice that Rottenhammer became famous for his cabinet paintings. These were small works, executed on copper and usually dealing with religious or mythological themes popular at the time.
Jan Bruegel the Younger was a Flemish Baroque painter. He was the son of Jan Brueghel the Elder, and grandson of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, both prominent painters who contributed respectively to the development of Renaissance and Baroque painting in the Habsburg Netherlands. Taking over his father's workshop at an early age, he painted the same subjects as his father in a style which was similar to that of his father. He regularly collaborated with leading Flemish painters of his time.
Adriaen Brouwer was a Flemish painter active in Flanders and the Dutch Republic in the first half of the 17th century. Brouwer was an important innovator of genre painting through his vivid depictions of peasants, soldiers and other "lower class" individuals engaged in drinking, smoking, card or dice playing, fighting, music making etc. in taverns or rural settings. Brouwer contributed to the development of the genre of tronies, i.e. head or facial studies, which investigate varieties of expression. In his final year he produced a few landscapes of a tragic intensity. Brouwer's work had an important influence on the next generation of Flemish and Dutch genre painters. Although Brouwer produced only a small body of work, Dutch masters Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt collected it.
Marten van Cleve the Elder was a Flemish painter and draftsman active in Antwerp between 1551 and 1581. Van Cleve is mainly known for his genre scenes with peasants and landscapes, which show a certain resemblance with the work of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Marten van Cleve was one of the leading Flemish artists of his generation. His subjects and compositions were an important influence on the work of Pieter Brueghel the Younger and other genre painters of his generation.
Frans Pourbus the Younger was a Flemish artist, renowned for his sophisticated portraiture, who gained prominence for his meticulous depiction of opulent costumes, jewelry, and drapery. Born in Antwerp in 1569 into a family with a rich artistic lineage, Pourbus honed his craft in the vibrant cultural milieu of the time. His grandfather, Pieter Pourbus, was a leading portrait and history painter in Bruges, while his father, Frans Pourbus the Elder, was a significant figure in portrait and genre painting. The younger Pourbus’s artistry was characterized by its attention to detail rather than the exploration of dramatic scenes or landscapes, a style that resonated with the sensibilities of the courts he served.
Pourbus's career flourished as he became a court painter to influential figures such as Archduke Albert and Infanta Isabella in Brussels. His reputation for producing portraits that were aesthetically pleasing to his patrons propelled him to work for Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and subsequently, Marie de' Medici, Queen of France, in Paris. His works are preserved in prestigious collections across Europe, including the Louvre, the Prado, the Rijksmuseum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Notable pieces such as the portrait of Eleonora de' Medici Gonzaga and the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain exemplify his skill in capturing the grandeur of the European aristocracy of the 17th century.
Art collectors and antiquities experts who admire the grandiose style of early European court portraiture find in Pourbus's work a quintessential representation of the era's aesthetics. His paintings, replete with detailed costume and adornment, provide a window into the past's lavishness and serve as enduring artifacts of cultural heritage. For updates on new product sales and auction events related to Frans Pourbus the Younger, signing up for our newsletter is a discreet and direct way to stay informed.
Barend Gael was a Dutch painter and graphic artist of the Dutch Golden Age of painting. He was a pupil of Philips Wouwerman.
Barend Gael was an accomplished painter of Italian landscapes and was known at the Guild of St. Luke's in Haarlem by 1642.
Gael's paintings are noted for their precise composition and use of light and shadow. He often used dark backgrounds to create a sense of depth and contrast, and skillfully used light to emphasise the texture and detail of figures.
Salvator Rosa was a seventeenth-century Italian Baroque painter. He is also known as an engraver, poet and actor.
Salvator Rosa left a very diverse artistic heritage. He was interested in historical, religious, mythological and fantastic subjects, he painted landscapes, battle scenes, portraits, still lifes. Having joined the naturalists of the Neapolitan school of painting, Rosa, however, showed originality in his treatment of subjects. For example, in his paintings on historical themes he combined realistic images with fantastical composition.
The biography of Rosa himself, full of adventures, subsequently became the subject of legends, books, paintings and musical works.
Works of Salvator Rosa today are represented in many museums and private collections in Europe and Russia.
Jan Dirksz Both was a distinguished Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher renowned for his pivotal role in the evolution of Dutch Italianate landscape painting. His journey into the arts began in Utrecht, learning from his father before becoming a pupil of Abraham Bloemaert. Both's career took a significant turn when he, alongside his brother Andries, ventured to Rome, absorbing the influence of Claude Lorrain and contributing to projects such as the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid.
By the mid-1640s, Jan had returned to Utrecht, further honing his craft to produce expansive landscapes illuminated by a Mediterranean glow, notable for their mixture of realism in the foreground against idyllic backgrounds. Noteworthy pieces include "Landscape with Bandits Leading Prisoners" and "Judgement of Paris," showcasing his mastery in blending naturalistic details with mythological and religious figures. His landscapes, characterized by their golden light and imaginative vistas, earned him a place among the leading masters of the Italianate trend in Dutch landscape painting.
Jan Both's legacy is preserved in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Fitzwilliam Museum, the Hermitage, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Louvre, and the National Gallery, among others. His work reflects a significant Italian influence merged with his native Dutch sensibilities, marking him as a key figure in the 17th-century art scene.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Jan Dirksz Both's oeuvre offers a fascinating glimpse into the blend of Dutch and Italian influences that characterize the Italianate landscape painting tradition. His contributions not only enriched Dutch art but also provided a bridge between the Renaissance and Baroque periods, capturing the beauty of landscapes with a unique, poetic light.
To explore more about Jan Dirksz Both's contributions to art and to stay informed about exhibitions or sales featuring his work, signing up for updates from art institutions can offer exclusive insights into the world of this influential Dutch painter. This subscription ensures enthusiasts and collectors are well-informed about developments related to Both's oeuvre, enhancing their appreciation and understanding of his artistic legacy.
Marcantonio Franceschini was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active mostly in his native Bologna. He was the father and teacher of Giacomo Franceschini.
His paintings have an academic and idealist strain, even for a member of the Bolognese School of Painting. The sparse figures are severely arranged and often porcelain in features. He worked with a younger colleague, Donato Creti. His style is often classified as Barochetto, a mixture of baroque and rococo; but it also could be said the neoclassical influence of French artists was beginning to overtake the baroque tradition. Wittkower describes him as the "Bolognese Maratta"
Adriaen Pietersz. van de Venne was a Dutch painter, graphic artist, and poet of the Golden Age and a member of the Guild of St. Luke in The Hague. He is known for his paintings of genre scenes, allegories, portraits, and historical scenes. De Venne painted many engravings illustrating genre scenes depicting peasants, old men, vagabonds, madmen, and thieves. These works often illustrate aphorisms and proverbs.
Alessandro Longhi was a distinguished Venetian portrait painter and printmaker, renowned for his artistry in etching and his significant contributions to the Venetian art scene. Born, trained, and having spent his entire life in Venice, Alessandro Longhi emerged as a pivotal figure in the city's artistic landscape, following in the footsteps of his father, Pietro Longhi. His works, especially his oil portraits, encapsulate the essence of Venetian nobility, capturing the grandeur and elegance of his subjects with remarkable finesse.
One of Alessandro Longhi's notable contributions to art and culture is his "Compendio delle vite de' pittori veneziani istorici," a comprehensive compendium detailing the lives and works of esteemed Venetian painters of his era. This work not only underscores his prowess in etching but also highlights his role as a chronicler of Venice's rich artistic heritage.
Alessandro Longhi's portraits, characterized by their meticulous detail and vibrant realism, are celebrated for their depth and vitality. Among his notable works are portraits of prominent figures such as Carlo Goldoni and Giacomo Casanova, as well as other Venetian nobles and statesmen, which have been lauded for their artistic merit and historical significance. His creations, such as "Painting and Merit," an etching that captures the interplay of art and virtue, exemplify his skill in using art to convey complex themes and narratives.
For art collectors and enthusiasts, Alessandro Longhi's works offer a window into the soul of 18th-century Venice, embodying the city's cultural opulence and the artistic brilliance of its inhabitants. His legacy continues to inspire and captivate audiences, making his artworks treasured possessions in the realms of art and antiques.
For those interested in the intersection of art, history, and culture, and wishing to stay informed about new sales and auction events related to Alessandro Longhi's works, subscribing for updates is a prudent choice. This ensures that aficionados and collectors alike remain abreast of the latest opportunities to engage with and acquire pieces of Longhi's enduring legacy.
Izaak (Isaac) van Oosten was a Flemish Baroque landscape and cabinet painter active in Antwerp.
His landscapes are simple with open spaces and mostly hilly landscapes typically filled with a pond or road and several clusters of trees. There is an overall sense of gentleness and calm in these compositions. An even, gentle light spreads over the entire painting and the trees are untouched by the wind. A number of his landscapes have a Mediterranean flavour.
Works by van Oosten can be found in the collections of the Uffizi, the Museo del Prado, the Hermitage Museum, the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans, the Museum of Fine Arts of Rennes, the Toledo Museum of Art and other museums.
Nicolaes van Verendael or Nicolaes van Veerendael was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp who is mainly known for his flower paintings and vanitas still lifes. He was a frequent collaborator of other Antwerp artists to whose compositions he added the still life elements. He also painted a number of singeries, i.e, scenes with monkeys dressed and acting as humans.
