St Cecilia, Dutch 17th Century; Follower of Gerrit Van Honthorst (1592-1656)

Oil on canvas.

In this image St Cecilia, the patroness of music, has been depicted playing an organ and is attended by an angel chorister singing from a hymnbook. Painted during the 17th century, the artist followed the work of Gerrit van Honthorst (1592-1656) and his St Ceclia (painted c.1623 and now in the Schloss Museum, Wilhelmshöhe, Kassel, inv./cat.nr GK 182) (see photo). A number of copies were produced from the same period.

The strong chiavoscuro creates drama and ensures that the viewer focuses solely on the characters and the event. These nocturnal scenes illuminated by artificial light were a feature of Van Honthorst’s work during his stay in Italy and his play with lighting was employed with such great success that it earned him the nickname “Gherardo delle Notti". Van Honthorst popularised the style of Caravaggio in Holland on his return home from Rome in c.1620 and was a leading proponent of the ‘Utrecht Caravaggists’ as they were known.

Contained in a fine antique swept frame.

Measurements: Height 100cm, Width 84cm framed (Height 39.25”, Width 33” framed)

Provenance: Freemans, January 2015

UK collection

Honthorst was born in Utrecht, probably the son of Herman Gerritsz. van Honthorst, a painter of tapestry cartoons. He trained with Bloemaert, the leading local painter, before travelling to Rome and establishing a considerable practice. After his return to Utrecht in c.1620 he setup a school of painting which flourished exceedingly. After Rome he focused on Arcadian and domestic subjects and portraits. In 1628 he was working in London for King Charles I and was in the service of Prince Frederick Henry of Orange in 1628 (whom he was the favoured portrait painter). In 1635 Kinig Christian IV commissioned him for a long series of classical and historical pictures.

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