An error has occurred while processing this page. The site administrator has been notified. We apologize for the inconvenience.
13
Philippe Beernaerdts, possibly the portrait of Thomas Montanus and his family
Philips Bernaerdts (1620-1683?), a family portrait (possibly the portrait of Thomas Montanus - Van den Berghe - and his family?) in a Flemish landscape, the painting is signed in the lower right corner ‘P.L. Bernaerdts Fecit 1679’, oil on canvas, 190 x 280 cm
We believe, that this until recently unknown family portrait by Ph. Bernaerdts, could depict Thomas Montanus with his family. However, this is a thesis that requires further historical and art historical investigation.
Philippe Bernaerdts or Philips Bernaerts was born in Ghent in 1620, where he became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke in 1640. Fourteen years later he became a sworn member of the guild. In 1653 he painted an important descent of the cross for the church of Eke near Ghent. He later settled in Bruges to continue his long and successful career. At his time he was already a valued painter and was even assigned the restoration of works by Rubens and Van Dijck.
‘The Council of the Surgeons of Bruges’ (1677) was the most important work he created in Bruges. This famous work is part of the collection of the Old Saint John's Hospital of Bruges, founded in the 12thC, where Montanus worked as a doctor. In this painting Thomas Montanus is portrayed as chairman surrounded by the dozen Bruges surgeons.
Link 'Vlaamse Kunstcollectie'
Thomas ‘Van den Berghe’ Montanus (Diksmuide, 7 June 1617 – Bruges 8 April 1685 Bruges) studied philosophy and medicine in Louvain, where he graduated in 1639. He became a medical doctor of Bruges and the Saint John’s Hospital in 1656. Since 1669 he was the city’s leading figure to support the surgeons' guild and improve the medical education. As shown in the painting of the ‘Council of Surgeons’ (link above), he was a permanent member of the medical examination committee.
In 1666 Bruges was ravaged by an outburst of the plague. Montanus was appointed as chief of the recently established Chamber of Health. The evolution of the disease was listed day after day. As a result, Montanus was allowed to monitor the extent of the epidemic's evolution closely. He published a report book on the Bruges plague, ‘Qualitas Loimodea sive pestis Brugana anni MDCLXVI’. The importance of Thomas Montanus for the development of medical science cannot be overestimated.
Thomas Montanus was successively married to Petronella De Keyzer (Ghent, 1646), to Anna Elyas (ca. 1649) and to Maria Van Sandijcke (Bruges, 1673). He had a daughter with his second and a son with his third spouse. Both children died young.
The work offered by Carlo Bonte seems to portray (Dr Montanus?) sitting central as 'Pater Familias' surrounded by his family. The striking and lively portrayal of the figures, which are, as it were, caught in a silent movement illustrates and accentuates the supreme quality of the work.
The facial features of each of the portrayed express the distinction of their social status. Also striking is the physical similarities between the ladies on one part and of the gentlemen on the other part, which seems to suggest that they stem from three generations within the family.
One gets the impression that the painter could only portray the family the way he did because he really knew the characters. This crowded but charming portrait seems to capture the family as they really were. Finally, there is no doubt the work exudes the artist's technical knowledge and talent in every brushstroke.
The fact that the family is portrayed in a landscape setting is a clear indication of their life position. And although their pose is rather static, there is a lot of symbolism behind their gestures and the setting. The group gathers around a centre table, displaying a pewter plate with grapes, peaches, cherries and other fruits traditionally symbolising virtue. All figures are dressed 'à la Française'. The younger ladies are wearing elegant dresses in silk pastel fabrics with boat necklines and lace cuffs and an ‘à la hurluberlu’ headdress, finely decorated with coloured ribbons. Their jewellery leaves no doubt about their wealth. Both younger ladies for instance wear a fine Flemish heart pendant around their neck. The fact that they are wearing pearls further symbolises their virtue. The younger members wear falling caps. The youngest child plays with a golden or gilt silver baby rattle decorated with a piece of rock crystal. The person who could be identified as Thomas Montanus sits prominently amongst his elaborately dressed family. The family’s prosperity is underlined by their acquired right to hunt, as visualised by both the standing man and the boy to the left, holding the rifle and loot and the seated hunting dog at their feet. Hunting used to be a privilege for the nobility, but this right was also awarded to the higher middle class during the 17thC.
We believe, that this until recently unknown family portrait by Ph. Bernaerdts, could depict Thomas Montanus with his family. However, this is a thesis that requires further historical and art historical investigation.
Philippe Bernaerdts or Philips Bernaerts was born in Ghent in 1620, where he became a master in the Guild of Saint Luke in 1640. Fourteen years later he became a sworn member of the guild. In 1653 he painted an important descent of the cross for the church of Eke near Ghent. He later settled in Bruges to continue his long and successful career. At his time he was already a valued painter and was even assigned the restoration of works by Rubens and Van Dijck.
‘The Council of the Surgeons of Bruges’ (1677) was the most important work he created in Bruges. This famous work is part of the collection of the Old Saint John's Hospital of Bruges, founded in the 12thC, where Montanus worked as a doctor. In this painting Thomas Montanus is portrayed as chairman surrounded by the dozen Bruges surgeons.
Link 'Vlaamse Kunstcollectie'
Thomas ‘Van den Berghe’ Montanus (Diksmuide, 7 June 1617 – Bruges 8 April 1685 Bruges) studied philosophy and medicine in Louvain, where he graduated in 1639. He became a medical doctor of Bruges and the Saint John’s Hospital in 1656. Since 1669 he was the city’s leading figure to support the surgeons' guild and improve the medical education. As shown in the painting of the ‘Council of Surgeons’ (link above), he was a permanent member of the medical examination committee.
In 1666 Bruges was ravaged by an outburst of the plague. Montanus was appointed as chief of the recently established Chamber of Health. The evolution of the disease was listed day after day. As a result, Montanus was allowed to monitor the extent of the epidemic's evolution closely. He published a report book on the Bruges plague, ‘Qualitas Loimodea sive pestis Brugana anni MDCLXVI’. The importance of Thomas Montanus for the development of medical science cannot be overestimated.
Thomas Montanus was successively married to Petronella De Keyzer (Ghent, 1646), to Anna Elyas (ca. 1649) and to Maria Van Sandijcke (Bruges, 1673). He had a daughter with his second and a son with his third spouse. Both children died young.
The work offered by Carlo Bonte seems to portray (Dr Montanus?) sitting central as 'Pater Familias' surrounded by his family. The striking and lively portrayal of the figures, which are, as it were, caught in a silent movement illustrates and accentuates the supreme quality of the work.
The facial features of each of the portrayed express the distinction of their social status. Also striking is the physical similarities between the ladies on one part and of the gentlemen on the other part, which seems to suggest that they stem from three generations within the family.
One gets the impression that the painter could only portray the family the way he did because he really knew the characters. This crowded but charming portrait seems to capture the family as they really were. Finally, there is no doubt the work exudes the artist's technical knowledge and talent in every brushstroke.
The fact that the family is portrayed in a landscape setting is a clear indication of their life position. And although their pose is rather static, there is a lot of symbolism behind their gestures and the setting. The group gathers around a centre table, displaying a pewter plate with grapes, peaches, cherries and other fruits traditionally symbolising virtue. All figures are dressed 'à la Française'. The younger ladies are wearing elegant dresses in silk pastel fabrics with boat necklines and lace cuffs and an ‘à la hurluberlu’ headdress, finely decorated with coloured ribbons. Their jewellery leaves no doubt about their wealth. Both younger ladies for instance wear a fine Flemish heart pendant around their neck. The fact that they are wearing pearls further symbolises their virtue. The younger members wear falling caps. The youngest child plays with a golden or gilt silver baby rattle decorated with a piece of rock crystal. The person who could be identified as Thomas Montanus sits prominently amongst his elaborately dressed family. The family’s prosperity is underlined by their acquired right to hunt, as visualised by both the standing man and the boy to the left, holding the rifle and loot and the seated hunting dog at their feet. Hunting used to be a privilege for the nobility, but this right was also awarded to the higher middle class during the 17thC.
-
Condition: - relined and restored, stains to the back of the canvas
- a horizontal connection between the two parts of the canvas visible in the middle of the work, with some overpaint
- cleaned, but still some dirty areas
- overpaint:
-- the left edge a large restored tear (?) in the canvas, overpaint from the edge and running over the dog's head (+- 50 cm)
-- the pater familias: overpainted spots to the hair, clothing, around the left hand, the feet, above his head
-- quite a lot of overpaint to the trees in the background
-- overpaint to the edges
-- large overpainted spot to the left of the two front children
-- all over some other, less important overpainted spots
-- the boy to the right of the pater familias with overpaint to the right ear
-- the man to the left top corner with overpaint
-- the man to the right tip corner with overpaint to the hair
-- the smallest girl to the right with overpaint to the hat; the bigger girl to the left with overpaint to the left of her head
-- the two small children to the front with overpainted spot between their heads and to the left of the head of the dog in front of them
- furthermore, the work is in our opinion in a good and hangable condition
- Philippe Bernaerdt was a 17thC painter active in Bruges, where he became a master in 1677.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
The auction house is not in charge of shipment of the purchased goods.
Collection of purchases is only possible if the auctioneer has received full payment, be it in cash, by debit/credit card or via bank transfer.
If the buyer wishes a third party to collect his/her purchase in his/her stead, the buyer needs to fill in the Authorization Form for Collection of Purchase (please see below), sign it and send it back to the auction house via email. Without this Authorization Form, no third party can collect any purchase even if it is already paid for.
Goods must be collected no later than 15 days (applied to Belgian buyers) / 30 days (applied to international buyers) after the last auction day.
After this period, uncollected goods will be put in storage at the cost of the buyer. Regardless of the total amount of lots, a fixed storage fee of € 30 is charged. Besides this fixed fee, a storage fee of € 20 per lot per week will be calculated and charged as well.
February 18, 2021 10:00 AM CET
Bruges, Belgium
Carlo Bonte Auctions
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 27% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
Bid Increments
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| €0 | €99 | €10 |
| €100 | €299 | €20 |
| €300 | €499 | €25 |
| €500 | €999 | €50 |
| €1,000 | €1,999 | €100 |
| €2,000 | €4,999 | €200 |
| €5,000 | €19,999 | €500 |
| €20,000 | €99,999 | €2,000 |
| €100,000 + | €5,000 |