Bartholomeus van Bassen (1590-1652)

A Renaissance church interior

remnants of a signature (lower left on the pedestal)

oil on panel, 83x124 cm

Provenance:
-Collection K. Twining, Esq., Blackheath, May 1847 (according to a label on the reverse).
-With Galerie Rapps, Stockholm.
-Auction, Sotheby's, London, 17 December 1998, lot 3.
-Private collection, Amsterdam.

Little is known about the Golden-Age painter Bartholomeus van Bassen (1590–1652). In 1613, his name is registered in the archives of the Sint-Lucasgilde (‘St. Lucas Guild’) of the city Delft in the Netherlands. There is however reason to believe that Van Bassen is of Flemish origin, because his style can be linked to certain interior painters from Antwerp such as Pieter Neefs I (1578/90–1656/61) and Hendrik van Steenwijck II (1580–1640). In 1622, he moved to The Hague, where he played a more prominent role in the local painters’ guild. Not just a painter, Van Bassen was also active as an architect; this was a combination that was not uncommon in the seventeenth century. His professional view on architecture certainly helped him to depict church and palace interiors very realistically. Often his creations were not directly linked to existing buildings, but rather based on architectural concepts with which he made his own splendid interiors. The figures in his paintings were most likely painted by artist friends. The focus of his interiors was the correct mathematical use of perspective.

The depicted figures appear to be the work of another yet unidentified artist.