Jacques de Gheyn II (1565-1629)
Detail of drawing of nude women doing their hair
Brussels, Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten van België
Curator
Christine Vogt
From the museum website
The Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum of Aix-la-Chapelle presents nearly a hundred master drawings from the Royal Museums in Brussels. A selection of the best drawings from the considerably large and fine collection of chevalier Jean de Grez (1837-1910) will be shown in Germany for the first time. With its high quality and concentration, the exhibition provides a close approach to the art-world of the Netherlands in the so called „Golden Age“.
In the course of the 17th century the drawing began to free itself from its former state as sketch and study for other pieces of art. Slowly, works on paper begin to be traded in a market of their own, for a dedicated circle of collectors. All those aspects favour the development of the drawing to an autonomous and intricately worked piece of art. New motives and separate styles were created, a wide range of drawing material is used. Apart from illustrious small ensembles of highly famous and honoured masters as Hendrick Goltzius, Rembrandt van Rijn, Pieter Saenredam and Jacob Ruisdael, the presentation, exclusively designed for this exhibition, shows extensive series by master draughtsmen such as Abraham Bloemaert, Jan van Goyen, Jacques de Gheyn, Allart van Everdingen and Gerbrand van den Eeckhout.
In the present exhibition you will find a range of subjects as broad as the selection of artists. Landscapes and townscapes, historical and biblical scenes, portraits and genre views can be found, alongside depictions of technical instruments like the detailed study by Pieter Jansz. Saenredam of a printing press. Figure-studies and sketches provide an insight into the personal style of each master.
Catalogue
Holland in Linien: Niederländische Meisterzeichnungen des Goldenen Zeitalters aus den Königlich-Belgischen Kunstmuseen Brüssel
Stefaan Hautekeete
Catalogue of an exhibition held in 2005 in Brussels (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten – Oude Kunst), in 2007 in Amsterdam (Museum het Rembrandthuis) and in 2008 in Aachen (Suermondt-Ludwig Museum)
288 pp., 95 illustrations in color and additional ones in black and white, 30 x 24 cm., softbound
Ghent (Snoeck) 2007
ISBN 978-90-5349-645-9