Petrus van Schendel

(Terheijden 1806 - 1870 Brussels)
Elegant company watching fireworks in a park
Signed l.l.
Oil on panel, 18.8 x 29.2 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, the Netherlands
N.B.:
Petrus van Schendel was a unique painter, who acquired great fame both nationally and internationally. Not only his market scenes at moonlight and candlelight were immensely popular, but also his compositions centered around oil lamps, gaslight, fireworks and even electric light. In the middle of the 19th century, Van Schendel would become one of the most prospering painters in the Netherlands, with (inter)national royalty and important private collectors as his clientele. In this painting, fireworks are the source of light. Fireworks were first imported to Europe in the 13th century, but only in later times it was used to officially ring in the new year. In the 19th century, fireworks were used for celebrations in the richer parts of society, as can be seen in this work.