A fascinating new exhibition of Karel Fabritius, who was Rembrandt’s most gifted pupil and later was killed in a massive explosion in Delft, opens at Den Haag’s Mauritshuis Museum.
Delen
The blast was so immense it was heard 70 miles north of Delft on Texel island. On October 12, 1654, a secret gunpowder cache in Delft exploded, killing some 1,000 Delft residents. One of those victims that tragic morning was 32-year-old Carel Fabritius, a master painter who was renowned as Rembrandt’s most gifted pupil.
The Mauritshuis Museum’s new exhibition . from September 2004 to January 2005 . celebrates this great painter, showcasing 12 of Fabritius’ paintings . a modest number, owing to the fact that Fabritius’ studio and most of his works were also destroyed by the explosion. Exhibited with the few remaining and restored canvasses are two painted boxes, which demonstrate Fabritius’ skills of handling space and perspectives, as well as authentic official documents that hint at artist’s tumultuous personal life.
It’s with the Goldfinsh (1654), Fabritius’ most impressive painting, that we rediscover him. Fabritius is praised as a painter of perspective. A brilliant and experimental artist, he achieved optimal affects with minimal means. His work contains obvious influences from Rembrandt, especially his use of lighting, brushwork and careful composition. However, he differs from Rembrandt in his treatment of light backgrounds. Fabritius’ precision of working on a small scale with a full brush also distinguished him from his former master
In 1650, Fabritius moved to Delft. During his few years here, he greatly influenced Delft’s local school of artists, especially Vermeer. But then disaster struck. The gunpowder storehouse was located between the Geerweg and the Doelstraat, hidden among the trees behind the Doelen. The apocalyptic explosion destroyed a quarter of Delft and damaged the Oude and Nieuwe churches. This scene is captured in Egbert Lievensz. van der Poel’s painting ‘View of Delft after the Explosion of 1654’ (see web link at end of article).
After having enjoyed the Fabritius exhibition, be sure to visit the Mauritshuis’ impressive collection of Rembrandt and Vermeer paintings, which are located one floor above.
http://home.planet.nl/~poel1952/egbert.htm.
The blast was so immense it was heard 70 miles north of Delft on Texel island. On October 12, 1654, a secret gunpowder cache in Delft exploded, killing some 1,000 Delft residents. One of those victims that tragic morning was 32-year-old Carel Fabritius, a master painter who was renowned as Rembrandt’s most gifted pupil.
The Mauritshuis Museum’s new exhibition . from September 2004 to January 2005 . celebrates this great painter, showcasing 12 of Fabritius’ paintings . a modest number, owing to the fact that Fabritius’ studio and most of his works were also destroyed by the explosion. Exhibited with the few remaining and restored canvasses are two painted boxes, which demonstrate Fabritius’ skills of handling space and perspectives, as well as authentic official documents that hint at artist’s tumultuous personal life.
It’s with the Goldfinsh (1654), Fabritius’ most impressive painting, that we rediscover him. Fabritius is praised as a painter of perspective. A brilliant and experimental artist, he achieved optimal affects with minimal means. His work contains obvious influences from Rembrandt, especially his use of lighting, brushwork and careful composition. However, he differs from Rembrandt in his treatment of light backgrounds. Fabritius’ precision of working on a small scale with a full brush also distinguished him from his former master
In 1650, Fabritius moved to Delft. During his few years here, he greatly influenced Delft’s local school of artists, especially Vermeer. But then disaster struck. The gunpowder storehouse was located between the Geerweg and the Doelstraat, hidden among the trees behind the Doelen. The apocalyptic explosion destroyed a quarter of Delft and damaged the Oude and Nieuwe churches. This scene is captured in Egbert Lievensz. van der Poel’s painting ‘View of Delft after the Explosion of 1654’ (see web link at end of article).
After having enjoyed the Fabritius exhibition, be sure to visit the Mauritshuis’ impressive collection of Rembrandt and Vermeer paintings, which are located one floor above.
http://home.planet.nl/~poel1952/egbert.htm.
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