FRANÇOIS VERWITT (ca. 1623, Rotterdam - 1691). "Gallant Scene in an Interior. Oil on panel. Signed. With label of the Sala Parés (Barcelona) on th

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Oct 20, 2021

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  FRANÇOIS VERWITT (ca. 1623, Rotterdam - 1691). "Gallant Scene in an Interior. Oil on panel. Signed. With label of the Sala Parés (Barcelona) on the back. Measurements: 62,5 x 88,5 cm; 78,5 x 104 cm (frame). Author belonging to the German Golden Age, he was the son of the painter Adriaan Verwilt of Antwerp and was apprenticed to Cornelius van Poelenburgh (1586-1667) in Utrecht together with Jan van der Lijs, among others. Verwilt became a versatile painter in many genres, including historical, mythical and biblical landscapes, genre works, portraits, still lifes and contemporary interiors of agriculture and middle-class urban life . He is considered part of the "Poelenburch school of landscape painting". His colours range from the style of Poelenburgh in his landscapes to the chiaroscuro of Rembrandt in depictions of contemporary Dutch life. His paintings are represented in many museums, including those in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Haarlem, Budapest, Leningrad, Mainz, Osnabrück, Paris, Vienna and elsewhere. There are no biographies or monographs of his works. This painting brings together the most valued attributes of Flemish painting, which during the Baroque period was able to perpetuate the refined technique of masters such as Van Eyck in the treatment of detail, while at the same time domestic scenes gained in naturalness, as we see in this lively interior. An informal gathering seems to be taking place, a meeting of aristocrats enlivened by the music of violinists. A lady is practising her singing, a servant is pouring wine, a noble couple are exchanging confidences.... The ochre and earthy tones of the room act as a chromatic counterpoint to the gauze and velvet cloaks worn by the guests. The glazes of the glass, the collars and breastplates of fine lace, the pleating of the sleeves, the faces alight with conversation..., the precious detailing is combined with the general capture of a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Although Brussels was the political centre of Flanders, Antwerp was the city where the most important artistic activity had been centred since the 16th century. Antwerp had enjoyed a prominent position in Europe during that century, as its port had been the busiest in the Netherlands, and the Netherlands had prospered as a maritime power. Antwerp retained its pre-eminent position as an artistic centre for much of the 17th century, so that when Jan Brueghel, Rubens and Van Dyck were appointed court painters to the Archduchess Elisabeth, they imposed the condition that they could continue to maintain their workshop in Antwerp, rather than going to reside with the court in Brussels. Genre works, or scenes from everyday life, were very common in the 17th century. Many artists followed Pieter Bruegel the Elder's tradition of depicting lower-class peasant scenes, although elegant upper-class subjects were also common, with elegantly dressed couples at balls or in love gardens. Adriaen Brouwer, whose small paintings often show peasants brawling and drinking, was particularly influential on later artists. Paintings of elegantly dressed couples in the latest fashion, often with underlying themes such as love or the five senses, were commonly painted by Hieronymous Francken the Younger, Louis de Caulery, Simon de Vos, David Teniers the Younger and David Rijckaert.
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