Portrait of an Almoner of Antwerp, 1542

Not on View

Medium

oil on panel

Dimensions

overall: 84.8 x 63.2 cm (33 3/8 x 24 7/8 in.)

framed: 128.9 x 108.9 cm (50 3/4 x 42 7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Lewis Einstein

Accession Number

1956.3.2

Artists / Makers

Antwerp 16th Century (painter)

Image Use

This image is in the public domain.
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Inscription

across top: ALS MEN.SCRIEF.1542.OVT SIINDE.48.IAER.OP.DAT.PAS / WAERT.DAT.IC.AELMOESENNIER.VA.ANVERPE.WAS (In 1542 when I was 48, I was then almoner of Antwerp)

Provenance

(Galerie Charles Sedelmeyer, Paris); Mr. Einstein;[1] his son, Lewis Einstein [1877-1967], Paris; gift 1956 to NGA.

[1] Date of purchase unknown; memorandum by Lewis Einstein of 10 April 1962 in NGA curatorial files states that "it was bought by his father at the Sedelmeyer sale. Flemish authorities told him it was close to Massys." The Galerie Charles Sedelmeyer was active in Paris from the late 19th century through the early twentieth, both as private dealer and as a venue for auction sales. A major, four-part sale of Sedelmeyer's collection was held in 1907; this picture is not included in that sale. Sedelmeyer died in 1925.

Associated Names

Einstein, Lewis D.
Einstein, Mr.
Sedelmeyer Gallery

Exhibition History

1972: Styles in Portraiture, Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association, Alexandria, Virginia, 1972, no cat.

Technical Summary

The picture is constructed of two boards joined vertically at the center. The lower left corner of the left board has been repaired with fills and added pieces. An old check extends appx. 41 cm down from the top edge and appx. 11 cm in from the left. There are numerous areas of loss and subsequent repaint which have discolored in some instances. This is especially apparent in the hands; the proper left hand in particular is very damaged and its original shape altered. Examination with infrared reflectography reveals changes in the hat and neckline. The thick varnish has discolored considerably.

Bibliography

1965: Summary Catalogue of European Paintings and Sculpture. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1965: 50, as Flemish School, Goosen van Bonhuysen.

1968: National Gallery of Art. European Paintings and Sculpture, Illustrations. Washington, 1968: 42, repro., as Flemish School, Goosen van Bonhuysen.

1973: Voet, Leon. Antwerp. The Golden Age. Antwerp, 1973: 99, repro. 98.

1975: European Paintings: An Illustrated Summary Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1975: 128, repro., as Goosen van Bonhuysen.

1985: European Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1985: 32, repro.

1986: Hand, John Oliver and Martha Wolff. Early Netherlandish Painting. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, 1986: 14, repro. 13.