Monday, 9 November 2015

The Rysbrack Statuettes of Rubens, van Dyck and du Quesnoy, Part 7. Engraved sources van Dyck.

The Engraved Portraits of Anthony van Dyck.
 
Included here are a selection of engravings made prior to 1743 which would have been available to Michael Rysbrack when produced his portrait bust and statuette of van Dyck. With two exceptions they are all based on the original etched self portrait or that plate which was completed by Lucas Vorsterman I
 

Anthony van Dyck.
Original etched self portrait.
92 x 102 mm (cut).
British Museum.
 
 
by Jacobus Neeffs (Neefs), after Sir Anthony van Dyck
etching, circa 1645
 242 mm x 157 mm.
 
The famous self-portrait captures the immediacy of an autograph drawing, while leaving the bust of the figure to be completed by a specialist engraver. The backward glance suggests spontaneous movement, while the stipple technique indicates that van Dyck had been inspired in Italy by the engraved portraits by Ottavio Leoni. The unfinished state may mean that van Dyck distributed the print in this form among the friends and patrons, who would have appreciated, too, the superior quality of an early impression.

On his return to Flanders from Italy in 1628, van Dyck planned an ambitious project to publish portrait prints of distinguished contemporaries, which became known as his Iconographia. Initially he etched the heads, but he soon left all the printmaking to specialist engravers such as Paulus Pontius, supplying them with oil sketches and drawings from which to work. 52 of the 80 portraits published in the 1630s represent artists or art connoisseurs. They are shown elegantly dressed and at their ease, in a clear attempt to enhance the social status of the profession.
 
After van Dyck's early death, the publisher Gillis Hendricx reissued the plates with this self-portrait as the title-page. A bust was added below and set on a base, with a Latin inscription announcing that the portraits were drawn from life by van Dyck, who had had them engraved at his own expense.

see C. de Pauw and G. Luijten, Anthony van Dyckas a print maker, exh. cat. (Antwerpen Open, 1999)
 This info lifted from British Museum Website.
 
 
 
Anthony van Dyck
engraved by John Savage, pub. by John Lloyd
London, c.1683 -1700.
117 x 103mm.
British Museum
 
 
 
Anthony van Dyck,
reverse engraving c.1654 - 64,
Engraved by Richard Gaywood, pub. Peter Stent,
113 x 99 mm.
British Museum
 
 
Engraving by Wenceslaus Hollar after the Self  Portrait by Anthony van Dyck. 1644. The imagery of this portrait has been a matter of study and debate since the prototype. (Collection of the Duke of Westminster) was executed in 1632/3. It is an exuberant piece in which the painter displays a valuable gold chain, perhaps that given to him by the King in 1632, when he was knighted and made
painter to the King and Queen, and gestures to a sunflower. Whether this motif suggests the courtier's dependence in all things on the King - as the immense popularity of this image during the Civil War might suggest - or his devotion to the cause of Art - as John Evelyn certainly believed some decades later - has never satisfactorily been resolved, and it may be that both possibilities were always intended. Gold chains were traditional as gifts from sovereigns to painters, and when Van Dyck painted himself wearing one they were alsoa highly-prized element of fashionable costume. The painting's function is - if incidentally- documentary as much as it is
allegorical. Several copies of the oil portrait exist.
info Lifted from Historical portraits website
 
Anthony van Dyke,
from his own etched self portrait - the first engraving on this page
by Lucas Vorsterman (1595 - 1675).
245 x 157mm.
British Museum.
Vorsterman had worked for Rubens and was his most talented engraver but famously had a violent falling out with him in 1621, Rubens was godfather to his son Lucas II. It is believed that he suffered some sort of nervous breakdown. He was in England between 1624 and 1630.  He went on to work for van Dyck helping to produce 22 of the original 80 plates for his Iconography. Van Dyck engraved his portrait which has a singularly haunted look about it. I include it here because I believe it to be a wonderful portrait of a slightly disturbed man.
 
 
Lucas Vorsterman
Engraved by Anthony van Dyck
from Iconography.
 
 __________________________________
 
 
 
Anthony van Dyck.
Copy in reverse Engraving by Richard Gaywood,
after LucasVorsterman II,
pub. Peter Stent, London 1656.
 243 x 153 mm,
British Museum.
 
 
 
After a self portrait by Anthony van Dyck
After the original now in the Ufizzi Gallery Florence . c 1630.
by Giovanni Domenico Ferretti,
engraved by Pietro Antonio Pazzi, (1706 - 70), 
c. 1730 - 50.
266 x 180 mm.
British Museum.
 
It is unlikely, given the time frame, but possible that Rysbrack had seen this engraving before the production of his version of van Dyck.
 

Sunday, 8 November 2015

The Rysbrack Statuettes of Rubens, van Dyck and du Quesnoy, Part 6. Engraved Sources Rubens


The Bust of Rubens in the Jesuit Church, Antwerp.
destroyed in a Fire in 1718.
 
As a Catholic Michael Rysbrack would almost certainly have been aware of this bust and had seen it before emigrating to England in 1720. It is interesting to surmise whether the memory of it might have acted in some way as a catalyst for the recreation of the bust and statuette of Rubens sculpted 1743, but the inspiration almost certainly came from  a work by Johann Justin Preissler of 1735.


Red Chalk drawing by Jacob de Wit 
Bust of Rubens in Jesuit Church, Antwerp
291 x 282 mm.
British Museum.
 
This is the frontispiece to a set of thirty-six drawings in red chalk prepared by Jacob de Wit around 1718. They are based on (lost) sketches he made while a student in Antwerp from 1711-1712 at the city's Jesuit church.

When the main body of the church was destroyed by fire in 1718 after having been struck by lightning de Wit realised the importance of his drawings as testimonies for the lost paintings.

 Johan Van Gool  -'De nieuwe schouburg der Nederlantsche kunstschilders en schilderessen', The Hague, 1751, II, p.219) reports that this set was sold to Maria Elizabeth de Waal in 1751, after which it was sold in 1755 in Amsterdam.

Previous owner/ex-collection: George Guy Greville, 4th Earl of Warwick (1818 - 93)
(L.2600, Christie's, 20-21.v.1896/103).

The thirty-nine ceiling paintings which Rubens painted in 1620-1621 for the newly-built Jesuit Church in Antwerp constituted the most extensive commission he had received up to that time. They perished in the fire of 1718, however, many of Rubens´s spirited grisaille sketches and final oil sketches for the canvas paintings have survived, and they, together with documents and with contemporary copies by other artists, allow us to reconstruct not only the iconography and compositions of the paintings, but also their style and the overall effect of the series.
 
The church was rebuilt by Jan Pieter van Baurscheidt the Elder.
 
___________________________________________
 
 
Frontispiece to A Book of Engravings
after the lost ceiling pieces by Rubens and his studio in the Jesuit Church Antwerp.
Johann Justin Preissler (1698–1771).
Published by his brother Georg Martin Preissler.

Nuremburg 1735.
 
Illustrating busts of Rubens and van Dyck.
Note the turned socles and the palette.
 

 
http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/preissler1735/0011

The Rysbrack Statuettes of Rubens, van Dyck and du Quesnoy, Part 5, Sources Rubens.



The Engraved Portraits of Peter Paul Rubens, Prior to 1743.

As a collector, some or perhaps all of these engravings would have been available to Rysbrack.


Rysbrack was a prolific collector of engravings, see Rysbrack sale, Langfords of The Piazza Covent Garden, 15, 17 and 18th February, 1764, lot 60; Lot 24 and 25; lots 9, 10 and 11, heads by van Dyck.

The collection of engravings below is by no means exhaustive - others not included are variations of these



 
Engraved Portrait of Rubens by Wyngarde
after Wenceslaus Hollar (1607 -77).
Undated Mid 17th Century.
From the original portrait in the Rubenshuis,
285 x 223 mm.
British Museum.
 
 
Engraved Portrait of Rubens
after the Portrait now in Rubens House Antwerp 
153 x 115 mm
British Museum.
 
 
Engraved Portrait of Rubens
by Paulus Pontius after van Dyck,
Dated 1657.
155 x 112 mm.
British Museum.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Engraved Portrait by Johannes Meyssens,
after a Self Portrait by Sir Peter Paul Rubens now in the Royal Collection.,
c.1680.
 
 
Engraved portrait of Rubens after van Dyck, after Paulus Pontius.
by Abraham Lutma. c. 1650.
234 x 155 mm.
British Museum.
The original or a study for it is in the Rijksmusum, Amsterdam.
 
A pair of related grisailles are at Boughton House, Northamptonshire.
Variations of this engraved portrait are probably the primary source for Rysbrack's representations of Rubens
 
 
Engraved Portrait of Rubens
Rene Lochon,
Paris c. 1650.
162 x 121 mm.
 
 
Engraved Portrait of Peter Paul Rubens
After the original by Van Dyke ,
Engraved by R Gaywood, 1656.
 
 
 
 
Engraving of Rubens after the Self Portrait in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
Georg Marin Preisler,
Nuremberg c. 1740.
273 x 175 mm
 
 
 
Engraved Portrait of Rubens
after van Dyck,
 by Jean Audran.
pub. by Gaspard Duchange, Paris 1710,
 
504 x 354 mm
 
 
Anonymous Engraving of Rubens aged 46, c. 1700 - 50,
150 x 207mm.
After the self-portrait by Rubens in the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle, signed and dated 1623, P
ainted for the future Charles I.
It is mentioned in a letter of 10 January 1623 from Rubens to Valavez.
(see R. Magurn, 'Letters of Rubens' no.60).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Rysbrack Statuettes of Rubens, van Dyck and du Quesnoy, Part 4. Sources Erasmus Quellinus.

 
 
update.

The original painting /grisailles which had been stolen from the exhibition was spotted at an auction in Toulon, France by Dr Bert Schepers, Senior researcher and editor Corpus Rubenianum.

He contacted me and I informed the collection manager at Chatsworth he also did the same thing.


At no time has my part in this been acknowledged publically by either Bert Schepers or the powers that be at Chatsworth.

No doubt I will get my reward in heaven!!

It should be noted that I had identified this painting as by Erasmus Quellin and not by Abraham van Diepenbeeck after discovering the engraving by Paulus Pontius illustrated below.

Here is the link to my updated post.


 A Mid 17th Century Engraving by Paulus Pontius.

 Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck.
 
 
 
 
 Peter Paul Rubens and  Anthony van Dyck.

by Paulus Pontius (Paulus Du Pont),

 
After the original Grisaille by Erasmus Quellinus (1607 - 78).

Portraits after Sir Anthony van Dyck.

line engraving, mid 17th century.

 347 mm x 448 mm.

Rijksmuseum.
 




 
 
 
 
______________________________
 
 
 
 


Portraits of Van Dyck and Rubens previously attributed to Abraham van Diepenbeeck (1599-1675).

Oil on wood panel -

Size approx. 12 x 17 inches.
 
Theft Alert
Unfortunately, this painting was stolen while it was on loan for an exhibition at the 
(old) Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne in 1979 and has not yet been recovered.

 
© Devonshire Collection, Chatsworth. 

Reproduced by permission of Chatsworth Settlement Trustees.
 
I am extremely grateful to Diane Naylor, photo librarian at Chatsworth who provided me with this image. I would also like to thank Charles Noble, Curator of the Devonshire Collection for his communications and for facilitating my obtaining this image.
 
It should be noted that although attributed to van Diepenbeeck it is very obviously the original to the engraving illustrated above.
 
_________________________

 
 
 

Queen Christina of Sweden as Minerva.

Engraving mid 17th Century.

340 x 216 mm.

Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
 
After the original by Erasmus Quellinus.

Jeremias Falck (1619 - 77).

Now in the Musee de la Chartreuse, Douai. (below).
 
____________________________


 
 
 

Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689). As Minerva.

Grisaille, oil on board.

245 x 190 mm.
 
Monogramed EQ on the book beneath the owl.

Erasmus Quellinus.

Commissioned in 1649 by the Swedish Ambassador Le Blon.
 
The existence of this grisaille perhaps suggests that there was an original of the bust depicted. Possibly a lost work by his brother Artus Quellinus.
 
For the Images of Queen Christina see
The Dissertation of Nathan Allan Popp, University of Iowa.
 
He was not aware of the Grissaille above.
 
For an excellent and very in depth study of Erasmus Quellinus see
Erasme Quellin, dans le sillage de Rubens. Musee de Flandre, Exhibition Catalogue. 2014.
In it there is a very interesting chapter written by Alain Jacobs - La Sculture dans L'ouevre Peint d' Erasme Quellin.
 
For a good overview of the career and networks of Erasmus Quellinus see -

Saturday, 7 November 2015

The Rysbrack Statuettes of Rubens, van Dyck and du Quesnoy, Part 3.Announcement in the Press. Joseph van Aken


The Daily Advertiser, 19 December 1743.
 
The announcement of the Publication of the Proposal to cast in plaster of Paris the three statuettes of Rubens, van Dyck and du Quesnoy from the original terracottas by Michael Rysbrack in the collection of Joseph van Haken. It appears again on Wednesday 4th January 1744.
 
Price to subscribers seven guineas and a half for the set. Three guineas to paid at the time of subscription the remaining four and a half guineas paid on the delivery of the set.
 
Subscriptions taken by Messrs Claessens and van der Hagen at Mr Rysbrack's at Vere St, near Oxford Chapel where the models could be seen, or at John Brindley's booksellers to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales at New Bond Street.
 




George Vertue wrote in praise of the sculptures in 1743 Rysbrack had 'lately since made three models in clay, being the representation of 3 most excellent artists (about 2 foot hi each figure) Rubens van Dyke and Fiamingo Quenoy all three his countrymen These three models for the invention being standing the gracefulness of the Actions the dispositions of their habit, attitudes, and natural likeness, is most excellent. Q[uestion] if any other Artist living could do better and more masterly execute them.’

Vertue goes on to say that Rysbrack's popularity had been eclipsed by that of Peter Scheemakers, after the completion in 1740 of the latters monument to Shakespeare in Westminster Abbey and that he was feeling 'the effects in the line of Busines' there is no suggestion that there was any financial motive rather that he had time on his hands and that 'these (statuettes) are the effect of leisure and study'.
__________________________________
 
Notes on the people mentioned in the newspaper:

Peter Claessens - In his will, proved 12 December 1749 (PROB 11/775) he is described as a ‘Statuary of Saint James Westminster, Middlesex.’ He is known to have been one of the foremen to Michael Rysbrack, along with Gaspar Van Der Hagen. He was in London by 1744  Claessens died on 4 December 1749. In his will he left all to his wife and sole executrix, Ann (nee Bridget, who died in 1766, PROB 11/922/437). His time with Rysbrack must have been fruitful as Claessens owned no fewer than six leasehold properties in London and Chester at the time of his death (PROB 11/775, ff99-100). basic info - Henry Moore Foundation.

Gaspar van der Hagen -
A carver in ivory and marble, Van der Hagen was a long-term assistant to Michael Rysbrack. His date of birth is unknown and no information has surfaced on his training, but he had relatives in Antwerp. He was in London by late 1743, according to George Vertue (see above). In 1747 Vertue noted ‘Mr Vander Hagen. Sculptor works for Mr Rysbrack. has done several heads portraits in Ivory.—very well. but not meeting with propper encouragement did not continue’ (Vertue III, 135).

The lack of encouragement must have been temporary, for Van der Hagen was still exhibiting ivory portraits nearly 20 years later. His small bust of the Duke of Cumberland is a very assured, minutely detailed and textured rendering of a larger marble work by his master V and A . It suggests that Van der Hagen had considerable talent.

 He was still lodging with his master in Vere Street, Oxford Road in 1766, and four works by him were sold in the auction of Rysbrack’s collection held by Langford on 14 February 1767 (2, 6, 10, 11). The Sacrifice to Hercules, which resurfaced in 2002  is a competent work after a terracotta model by Rysbrack, itself based on a relief on the Arch of Constantine in Rome.


 Sacrifice to Hercules
Gaspar van der Hagen
61 x 73.5 cm
 
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Fund and a Gift from the Parnassus Foundation, Courtesy of Jane and Raphael Bernstein.
 Literature:
 
Daniel Katz Ltd., European Sculpture, London, 2003, p. 54, no. 21, Dealer Cat. Daniel Katz Ltd.             
Algernon Graves, The Society of Artists of Great Britain, 1760-1791, and The Free Society of Artists, 1761-1783: a complete dictionary of contributors and their work from the foundation of the Societies to 1791, Kingsmead Reprints, Bath, 1969, p. 263, no. 177, N5053 G73 1969

Free Society of Artists, A catalogue of the paintings, sculptures, architecture, models, drawings, engravings &c. now exhibiting by the artists, associated for the relief their distresed brethren, their widows, and children, at Mr. Moreing's Great-Room, in Maiden-Lane, Covent-Ga, Catalogue of the Free Society of Artists, London, 1766, p. 14 [p. 95], no. 177, N5055 S62 C3 1760A (YCBA) , Also available on line In 18th century Collection Online data base

Langford & Son, Langford & Son sales catalogue : A catalogue of the neat collection of pictures, marble bustos and vases, fine models of bassos relievos and monuments of Mr. Michael Rysbrack : 14 February 1767, London, February 14, 1767, p. 3, lot 44, Available on line : Art Sales Catalogues Online
 


 Rysbrack bequeathed £50 to ‘Gaspar Vanderhagen Statuary who did live with me’ in his will, dated 5 March 1768, and an undated codicil adds ‘Gaspar Vanderhagen dyed before me’. In fact Vanderhagen was still alive in 1768, but had moved to York, where he died in 1769. Rysbrack died 8 January 1770.

The timing was unfortunate for Van der Hagen appears to have lived out his last days in penury. In 1768 he applied to the Society of Artists for support, ‘being in great necessity’, and received four guineas (Society of Artists’ Archives, Burlington House).

 His goods were administered by his sisters Isabella and Catherine (Harman), both of whom lived in Antwerp. These executors held a sale of their brother’s work on 17 April 1771. Van der Hagen was described in the catalogue as the ‘principal assistant to the late Mr. Rysbrack,’ and the sale included ‘several fine heads and figures in ivory, basso relievos in marble, books of prints, &c’ (Anecdotes 1937, 154-5).

There is a small ivory relief of Isaac Newton also in the V and A.

 In the letters of administration Van der Hagen is described as a ‘bachelor’, so it is perhaps unlikely that Vanderhagen of Shrewsbury was, as Gunnis supposed, his immediate offspring. The Royal Academy pension paid to a Mr Vanderhagen between 1769 and 1775, and subsequently to the widow of the same until 1781, also relates to another family.

 After Jean Cavalier and David le Marchand, with whom he shares some stylistic similarities, Van der Hagen is currently the best documented ivory carver of the 18th century. However the large corpus of works includes many attributions, not here listed. Among them are an oval medallion of John Milton, signed ‘VDHN’ (VAM), as well as many unsigned works and others with the incongruous signatures, ‘GVD,’ ‘GVDR’ and ‘GVR.’ (Add inf. Gordon Balderston, Marjorie Trusted)
MGS
Literary References: Graves 1907, 263; Webb 1954, 68, 186, 189; Gunnis 1968, 406; Davis 1970 (1), 16; Davis 1971 (4), 1223
Archival References: SAA SA/34/1; SA/37/6
Wills and Administrations: Administration of the will of Jasper otherwise Gaspard Vanderhagen, 17 July 1769, FRC PROB 6/145/27; will of Michael Rysbrack PROB 11/954/224-6
Auction Catalogues: Van der Hagen 1771.

Info Henry Moore Foundation. -
__________________________________________
 
 
Short Biography of Joseph van Aken (c.1699 – 4 July 1749).
 
As on many of the pages in this blog I only meant to touch on the subject, but as no one else appears to have taken much interest in the van Aken brothers I thought I might as well put my finding down. As the main thrust of this blog is to present a visual history and appreciation of the art of the mid 18th century, I felt that it was import to show the skills of the van Akens - most scholars will be aware of the part taken by the older Joseph van Aken in the portraits of Ramsay and Hudson, but Alexander van Aken is a slightly more shadowy figure. Another thrust of this blog is to try to show the links between the artists of this period.
 
Joseph van Aken  (various spellings - van Haken, van Haaken, Vanhaeken). He came to London from Antwerp in about 1720 along with his brother Alexander (1701–57) who was an engraver and mezzotinter, and also by possibly at the same time an older brother called Arnold (d.1735/6). Michael Rysbrack (1694 - 1770) the sculptor of the terracotta originals of Rubens, van Dyck and du Quesnoy arrived in England from Antwerp at about the same time.

He initially painted genre scenes and conversation pieces (see below) before becoming the most important specialist drapery painter in London in the mid -1730's. See an English Family at Tea of c. 1720 in the Tate Gallery, (see R. Edwards, 'The Conversation Pictures of Joseph van Aken', Apollo, xxii, 1936, pp. 79-85).
 
His works as an independent artist, include a view of Covent Garden (Museum of London), which he painted a further two times, and The Stocks Market (Bank of England, London) are important topographical views of London.

 
 George Vertue wrote in 1743 -  'Mr Van acken – whose draperys silks satins Velvets, gold & embroideryes which he dos paint for several of them painters extreamly well- and is a great addition to their works and indeed puts them so much on a Level that its very difficult to know one hand from another'

From the above news clipping it is clear that van Aken had a business relationship with Michael Rysbrack. Whilst the terracotta statuettes were clearly in his possession, the plaster reproductions were being sold from Rysbrack's business premises at Vere Street, Oxford Market. It is unclear who cast these statuettes but it is unlikely that they were made by Peter Vanina, who was first recorded working for Rysbrack after 1753. In 1758 when Sir Edward Littleton approached Michael Rysbrack for plaster copies of his own portrait bust, Rysbrack replied that making multiples was ‘a thing Entirely out of my way’, going on to say that he had consulted ‘Mr Vannini, the Caster in Plaster of Paris. (Whom I Employ when I want). Peter Vanina owned a pair of the statuettes of Rubens and van Dyck which were disposed of from his house in Dover Street in his 2nd sale of 3 July 1770 on the occasion of 'his going abroad', (Rupert Gunnis 1951).

In The London Tradesman (1747), a handbook of professions, the drapery painter is listed as a ‘mere mechanic hand’ who is ‘employed in dressing the figures, after the painter has finished the face, given the figure its proper attitude, and drawn the out-lines of the dress or drapery.’ the work of van Aken rather disproves this statement.

Jean Andre Rouquet says in The present State of the Arts in England, originally published in French in 1754, written by the Swiss born artist Jean André Rouquet, a friend of Hogarth and David Garrick, who resided in London between 1726 and 1750. A brief preliminary discourse is followed by reviews of the various arts in England, not only dealing with painting, but with sculpture, woodcarving, silk manufacture, engraving, printing, stonecarving, porcelaine, and further with theatrical declamation, music, the decoration of shops and the sale of pictures.

"When a portrait painter happens to have a little business, it is usual for him to employ other hands in the painting of the drapery. Two rival artists took it into their heads to hire entirely to themselves another painter whose name was Vanhaken, to be employed in the drawing of the drapery: this man had real abilities, and might have done much better things, but chose to confine himself to this branch, because he was always sure of business. The two painters agreed to pay him eight hundred guineas a year, whether they could find work for him to this amount or not; and he on his side engaged to paint no drapery but for them. When either of those painters was employed to draw a picture, it was frequently on condition that the drapery should be done by Vanhaken. And indeed his drapery was charming, in an excellent taste, and extremely natural. The two rival painters who had thus engrossed Vanhaken, occasioned a great deal of confusion among the rest of their brother artists, who could not do without his assistance. The best of them knew not how to draw a hand, a coat or ground; they were obliged to learn it, and of course to work harder. Sad misfortune! From that time ceased that extraordinary sight at Vanhaken’s, when he used to have canvases sent him from different parts of London, and by the stage coaches from the most remote towns in England, on which one or more masks were painted, and at the bottom of which the painter who sent them took care to add the description of the figures, whether large or small, which he was to give them. Nothing can be more ridiculous than this custom, which would have still continued, had Vanhaken still continued". (Rouquet 1755, 44-45).

 
Joseph van Aken painted drapery for the leading portrait painters of the time including, Hamlet Winstanley, George Knapton, and particularly Thomas Hudson and Allan Ramsay who were both executors to his will.

For more on Ramsay and his relationship with van Aken see - Allan Ramsay, A complete Catalogue of his Paintings by Alastair Smart, edited by John Ingamells pub. Yale, 1999.

Given the huge output of portraits by Hudson and Ramsay - Joseph van Aken must have worked in a similar fashion to Damian Hurst today, with a studio that was almost a production line, turning out variations of draperies on portraits for the artists perhaps using some sort of template system. His brother Alexander van Aken was obviously also very capable but not with perhaps the same business head, certainly working with him and Alexander was able to continue the studio after he died witnessed by payments to him in Hudsons bank account at Coutts in 1752 - 3.

There is a group of 14 drawings by van Aken (Vanhaecken) in the National Gallery of Scotland which relate to portraits by Ramsay.

Possibly by co incidence 14 of his drawings were sold in the posthumous sale by Langford's, lot 24 on 12 February 1750, the second night of the disposal of his substantial collection (see below).

His studio was at King Street, Seven Dials, Covent Garden.
 
George Vertue again noted in 1744 'It is truly observd that Hudson has lately more success and approbation than the other or any other of ye busines – at present a great Run – his pictures being dressd and decorated by Mr Joseph Van Aken – who is a very elegant and ingenious painter. Serves & helps him and other painters to dress and set off their pictures to advantage he having an excellent free Genteel and florid manner of pencelling Silks Sattins Velvets. Gold laceings Carvings &c'
 
Hudson has to my mind been unfairly ignored since his death having been eclipsed by William Hogarth and overshadowed by his most successful pupil Joshua Reynolds. Hudson’s highly successful practice was based in Covent Garden where he employed a large studio which included amongst his apprentices Joshua Reynolds, Richard Phelps and Joseph Wright of Derby.

The creative relationship between Hudson and Van Aken was strengthened by their joint acquisition of lots from Jonathan Richardson’s sale of drawings in 1746, as George Vertue noted with Hudson: ‘Mr Van Aken jointly bought also drawings paintings &c.’ This suggests to me that their relationship was a business partnership, perhaps a similar deal to that struck with Rysbrack with the statuettes. At the sale of Richardson’s paintings the same year, a priced copy in the Houlditch MS reveals, Van Aken purchased £36.12.6 worth of paintings and Hudson £92.15.

In 1748 the van Aken brothers accompanied Hogarth, Hudson, Hayman and (John?) Cheere on a 5 week trip to the continent (ill fated for both Hogarth and Hayman, who were arrested in Calais as spies - the others continued to Paris and then to Holland - Vertue again).

He was living in Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, where he died on 4th July 1749. The catalogue of his sale at Langford's, 11 February 1750 gives his address. According to George Vertue he was about fifty years old at the time of his death, and had spent more than 30 years in England.

George Vertue has the last word 'The Ingenious Mr Joseph VanhAcken painter (had been 30 years or more in England) haveing catchd cold fell into a Feavour of which in about a fortnights Time he dyd – aged about 50 – a man of good compleaxion a good round fatt face and shortish stature. A small cast with one Eye'

The 'original models of Rubens, van Dyck and Fiamingo' were included in Langford's of the Piazza Covent Garden, posthumous van Aken auction sale of 11th February 1751. van Dyck



For the entire catalogue of this sale over 15 nights from  Monday Feb 11th 1750, until Saturday 16th, the sale recommencing on Monday 18th until Saturday 23rd, and continued from Monday 24 until Wednesday 27th February 1750.


For our purposes the most instructive day of the sale was the first day - Monday 11th February 1750 when van Aken's collection of  77 pieces of sculpture were sold.

 Under the heading - MODELS IN TERRA COTTA, CASTS IN PLAISTER, &c.

Lot 45 - King William on horseback, by Mr. Rysbrack.
Lot 47 - Palladio and Inigo Jones, by Mr. Rysbrack.
Lot 48 - Rubens, Vandyck and Fiamingo, by ditto.

Under the heading  MODELS &c.

Lot 70 - Sir Isaac Newton and Mr. Lock cut in ivory.
Lot 71 - Vandyck and Inigo Jones, ditto
Lot 73 - The original model of Rubens, by Mr. Rysbrack.
Lot 74 - Ditto, of Vandyck, by ditto
Lot 75 - Ditto, of Fiamingo, by Mr. Rysbrack
 
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Coincidently? the first plaster versions known to have been produced by John Cheere (the Rubens and van Dyck statuettes from the set of Kirkleatham plasters at York Museum) are signed and dated Cheere F 1749. and would have been manufactured almost immediately after the death of Joseph van Aken on the 4th July 1749.
 
The van Dyck, one of the pair of  plaster figures (the other is of Rubens) at West Wycombe Park  is signed Mich. Rysbra and dated 1743 on the right hand side of the pedestal. The accompanying figure of Rubens has been damaged where one might expect to see the signature and consequently there is no sign of it (see forthcoming page on this blog with photographs of the West Wycombe statuettes).

This would suggest that the moulds for these figures were disposed of by Rysbrack or a new deal struck with Cheere for the reproduction of these statuettes, almost immediately after the death of van Aken and Cheere promptly commenced production.

Handel bought a 'Conversation' by Watteau at Langford's sale of van Aken's collection and Hudson acted as agent for several purchasers at this sale and no doubt as a serious collector purchased items for himself.

For the will of Joseph van Aken (Vanhaecken) see Public Records Office PROB/11/772

Horace Walpole famously declared in Anecdotes of Painting in England, published London, 1786  'As in England almost everybody's picture is painted, so almost every painter's works were painted by Vanaken'

In Hogarth, vol. III by Ronald Paulson, 1993, the author relates the story - possibly apocryphal, that Hogarth had etched a caricature plate of mourners in the funeral procession of van Aken "composed of all the portrait painters of the metropolis as mourners and overwhelmed with the deepest distress".

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The following text is from the National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Kerslake, Early Georgian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1977 (now out of print).
 
The drapery painter cannot be Alexander van Aken who died in 1757 but illustrates the common practise of the use of drapery painters even by Reynolds
 
Ref. Portrait of William Pulteney, first Earl of Bath (1684 - 1764) portrait painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
 
Painted for Mrs Elizabeth Montagu in 1761 and given to her by the sitter, NPG 337 is a documented example of the use of the drapery painter. There are appointments in the sitter book for 28 and 31 August, 17 September, 16 October and 30 December, and progress may be followed in seven letters to and from Mrs Montagu. In early September, the painting is noted as due back from the drapery painter on 15 October and presumably despatched after the sitting of the next day. It then meets with criticism and goes back to Reynolds to be altered on 30 December, after which no more sittings are recorded. Relevant sections of correspondence include Mrs Montagu writing to Elizabeth Carter, 6 September: 'I have not told you that my Lord Bath has sat twice for his picture, it will be very like him but not so handsome, as long as he lives I shall look on it with pleasure, always with reverence'
 
William Pulteney's letter of 15 October 1761touches on the drapery painter: ‘. . . I was yesterday with Mr. Reynolds, & have fixed Fryday next at twelve, to finish the Picture. I have discovered a secret by being often at Mr. Reynolds, that I fancy, he is sorry I should know. I find that none of these great Painters finish any of their Pictures themselves. The same Person, (but who he is, I know not) works for Ramsay, Reynolds, & another, calld Hudson, my Picture will not come from that Person till Thursday night, and on Fryday it will be totally finished, and ready to send home . . .'.
 
The 'Person' could be Alexander Vanhaecken mentioned in 1752-3 in the accounts of Thomas Hudson, Coutts Bank archives, perhaps the younger brother of Joseph Vanhaecken, who is known to have worked as drapery painter for the artists named by Bath. (As we know) Joseph's death in 1749 is recorded by Vertue  and there are references to payments, 1751, in the accounts of Ramsay, his executor, also at Coutts.
 
The Earl of Bath does not appear in Reynolds' sitter book under Wednesday 14 October 1761, but he is entered at noon on the 16th. The remaining letters concern corrections:
 
 
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For the notebooks of George Vertue which are indispensable to the study of English Art in the 18th century see the Walpole Society Journals. For limited free access see  http://www.jstor.org/


This one of those really annoying brickwall websites that one hits from time to time when researching on the internet. They have managed to monetise numerous academic magazines etc. They suggest that unless you belong to an institution that subscribes to their services you give them an enormous amount of money in order to see the required information.

They do offer however offer a very limited access if you register with them - three free articles every month - again really annoyingly limiting. It is my guess that the owners of the copyrights to these articles were ignorant of the implications of giving this information to jstor to publish online, and had no idea how limiting to the independent researcher this was going to be.

My advice - register and use a digital camera to photograph each page so that you can save it for long term access.
 
 
 
Joseph van Aken. c. 1745.
Thomas Hudson
Oil on Canvas.
825 × 705 mm
 
©2015 Lowell Libson Ltd.
 
Provenance:
Presumably Hudson sale, Messrs. Langford, London, 3rd March 1779, lot 18 ‘Vanhaken’
John Lane (1854-1925), The Bodley Head, Vigo Street, London; 
Lane sale, Sotheby's, London, 1st July 1925, lot 117;
Sir George Sutton, Bt.
Sold Christie's London, 3 December 2014 lot 191.
Currently with dealers Lowell Libson, of London.
 
 
Joseph Vanhaeken after Thomas Hudson by John Faber Jr,
 published by George Pulley,
mezzotint, 1740s.
(352 mm x 249 mm) paper size.
 
© National Portrait Gallery, London.
 
 
 Alexander van Aken
Thomas Hudson

© National Portrait Gallery, London.
 
 
Alexander van Haecken
by John Faber Jr, after Thomas Hudson
mezzotint, 1748.
The Original oil by Thomas Hudson is in the NPG
 
© National Portrait Gallery, London.
 
Alexander van Haeken engraver and mezzotinter. There are twenty engraved portraits by him at the NPG including one of Senesino the Castrati opera singer after Thomas Hudson. He took over as drapery painter for Thomas Hudson after the death of his brother.
 
 
 
Alexander van Haeken
by Thomas Hudson
unfinished oil on canvas.
406 x 349 mm.
Yale Centre for British Art.
 
 
The van Aken brothers.
circa 1740.
possibly a self portrait by Joseph van Aken.
 
Inscribed on the back of the original canvas “For Mr Ford”. We have not yet traced the identity of “Mr Ford”, though it way well be a reference to the Irish portraitist and engraver Michael Ford (d.1765) who was in London for an extended period before his return to Dublin in 1742, and who is documented as engraving portraits after Hogarth, Cotes, Hudson, Arthur Pond et al..
 
 
 The right eye of the sitter in the present portrait seems to have a slight squint: whilst the left eye looks directly at the beholder, the right eye is canted a little to the sitter's left. This accords with George Vertue's eye-witness account of the artist's appearance: “a man of good complexion, a round fat face and shortish stature, a small cast with one eye” (Notebooks, III p.150; Walpole Society 1933-4 Vol XXII),
 
Image and description courtesy Lane Fine Arts.


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 Joseph van Aken
A Tea Party.
  • Oil on canvas, 37.4 x 45.7 cm
  • They say circa 1720, but I believe perhaps ten or fifteen years later, possibly a self portrait of the artist with his family. Full of fascinating incidental detail. For a similar silver tea kettle and table of 1724 - 5 by the Huguenot silversmith Simon Pantin see - http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/68.141.81
  • An interesting detail is the sculpture on the right hand side of the painting.

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Joseph van Aken
Saying Grace
Ashmolean.
 
 
 
Attrib. Joseph van Aken
64,2 x 76,9 cm
Lot 39, 6 August 1995
Christie's London.
 
I am including this painting as it is a very rare early depiction of the interior of a tavern or coffee house.
From the detail of the windows I would suggest that it is a representation of a tavern in Holland.
 
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I am including various engravings below by Alexander van Aken to show his ability to depict drapery.
 
 
 
The sculptor Laurent Delvaux (1696, Ghent – 24 February 1778, Nivelles)
after Isaac Whood 1734.
Mezzotint by Alexander (Vanhaken)
1735
 
 Mezzotint
Lettered with four verses,
and "Jos. Van Haecken Pinx. / Alex. Van Haecken Fecit /
Sold by Alex. Van Haecken ye corner of Queen Street in Holborn".
Added in pencil by Horace Walpole 'His daughter'
330 x 270mm.
British Museum.
 
 
Kitty Clive
After J Davison 1735.
Engraving by Alexander van Aken
1735
National Portrait Gallery.
 
Seeing
After Amigoni
Mezzotint by Alexander van Aken
Mezzotint
British Museum.
 
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Below are the two castrati Opera Singers Senesino and Farinelli who readers of this blog will have met before.
 
Both had their portraits sculpted at about the same time as these mezzotints were produced.
 
 
 
Senesino
Francesco Bernardi (c.1680 - 1750)
After Thomas Hudson
Mezzotint by Alexander van Aken
after Thomas Hudson.
354 mm x 251 mm plate size;
1735.
© National Portrait Gallery, London
 
 
 
 
Farinelli
Carlo Broschi (1705 - 82).
after Charles Lucy
Mexzzotint by Alexander van Aken,
mezzotint, 1735
13 7/8 in. x 10 1/4 in. (352 mm x 260 mm) paper size
 © National Portrait Gallery, London

 
Gizziello
Gioaccino Conti (1714 - 61)
 Alex van Aken
Mezzotint after Charles Lucy
 1736.
357 mm x 255 mm. plate size.
© National Portrait Gallery, London.
 
 
King George II
by Alexander van Aken,
 published by Thomas Jefferys, and published by William Herbert, after Sandie
308 mm x 254 mm. plate size
mezzotint, 1736.
 
 
 
 
Caroline Wilhelmina of Brandenburg-Ansbach
Queen of George II.
by Alexander van Aken, after Jacopo Amigoni
mezzotint, 1736
359 mm x 254 mm
 
© National Portrait Gallery, London.
 
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Arnold van Aken (van Haecken) d. 1736.
 
For the eight still lives Wonders of the Deep at Fishmongers Hall, the engravings of these paintings
by Jongelinckx
In an advertisement placed in London’s Daily Journalon Thursday 20th December
1733, the artist announced that both “Paintings and Prints” could be seen at his house in Belton Street near
Long Acre.
 
Arnold van Haecken issued a new
advertisement for The Wonders of the Deep in the London Evening Post on February 24th 1736, explaining
that new subscribers would thereafter receive an additional print “representing the Humours of a Fish Market…deliver’d gratis.