Gerrit van Honthorst - Christ Crowned with Thorns [1620]

Gerrit van Honthorst - Christ Crowned with Thorns [1620], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

As was customary for promising Dutch painters in the 1600s, Gerrit van Honthorst travelled to Italy to complete his artistic training. In Rome he fell under the spell of Caravaggio's revolutionary style and adopted his use of realistic figures and dramatic lighting, known as chiaroscuro. In Italy he acquired the nickname Gherardo delle Notti (Gerrit of the Nights) because he painted so many night scenes lit by candles or torches. 

This recently discovered painting may have been made as an altarpiece. It shows the Crowning with Thorns, one of the last of the series of events comprising the trial of Christ. His crude features illuminated by a torch, a jeering soldier mocks Christ, who humbly accepts the soldier's derision. In the shadows, another soldier places the crown of thorns on Christ's head, using a cane to protect his own hands. At the left, two dimly lit figures, perhaps Pontius Pilate and an advisor, discuss Christ's fate. 

[Oil on canvas, 87.5 x 68.3 inches]

Gerrit van Honthorst - Saint Sebastian [c.1623]

Gerrit van Honthorst - Saint Sebastian [c.1623], a photo by Gandalf's Gallery on Flickr.

Sebastian was a Roman centurion, who was discovered to be a Christian and was sentenced to death by Emperor Diocletian. He was bound to a stake and shot with arrows. He was left for dead, although the arrows had not killed him and he was eventually stoned to death. Honthorst was one of the first artists to portray Saint Sebastian as a half-length figure, slumped forward in a seated position. The pose was subsequently adopted by other followers of Caravaggio in Utrecht, including Jan van Bijlert and Hendrik ter Brugghen in the mid-1620s. This picture was probably painted shortly after Honthorst's return to Utrecht in 1620.

[Oil on canvas, 101 x 117 cm]

Gerrit van Honthorst - Childhood of Christ [c.1620]

The subject of this canvas is thought to be an apocryphal story from the childhood of Christ: Jesus helps the carpenter Joseph, his foster-father, with advice. Gerrit van Honthorst (November 4, 1592 - April 27, 1656) was one of the leading Dutch followers of Caravaggio. The influence of the great Italian master is clear in the down-to-earth nature of the scene, in the half-figures shown close to, and in the powerful contrasts of light and shade. Here a candle as a strong source of light may refer to Christ's words: "I am the light of the world."

[Oil on canvas, 137 x 185 cm]

Gerrit van Honthorst - The Matchmaker

Gerard van Honthorst (November 4, 1592 - April 27, 1656) was a Dutch painter of Utrecht. He was brought up at the school of Abraham Bloemaert, who exchanged the style of the Franckens for that of the pseudo-Italians at the beginning of the 16th century. Honthorst's works are numerous, and amply represented in English and Continental galleries. His most attractive pieces are those in which he cultivates the style of Caravaggio, those, namely, which represent taverns, with players, singers and eaters. He shows great skill in reproducing scenes illuminated by a single candle, amply employing the style of chiaroscuro. But he seems to have studied too much in dark rooms, where the subtleties of flesh colour are lost in the dusky smoothness and uniform redness of tints procurable from farthing dips.

Gerrit van Honthorst - A Young Woman playing a Viola da Gamba

For further information see Tuesday, January 13, 2009 posting or click artist’s label.

[Oil on canvas, 26.18 x 33.07 inches]