In 17th century paintings, the depiction of John the Baptist and Christ as children often emphasized their innocence, divine nature, and the unique bond between them.
Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) was a Flemish Baroque artist known for his portrait work, but he also created significant religious paintings. His religious art is characterized by elegance, emotional depth, and a refined use of color and composition.
Anthony van Dyck had several students and followers who were influenced by his style and techniques. While he did not establish a large formal workshop like his mentor Peter Paul Rubens, a few notable artists studied under him or were significantly influenced by his work.
This particular painting (unframed) exhibits the typical fleshy painting style associated with the circle of Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck.
A second variant of this composition is housed in the Norwegian museum Vest-Agder-Museet. The version in the Norwegian museum is less detailed and lacks, for example, the richly decorated rock wall present in our version of the painting.
The influences of Rubens are clearly visible in the red underpainting that forms the base of this work. The painting is in an unrestored state and shows signs of aging consistent with its age.
You can view the museum version via the link below.
(https://digitaltmuseum.no/021026850135/maleri)
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Provenance: Private collection London, United Kingdom
