Two Antwerp churches in background of Saint Norbert painting

Copages, from France, sells on 10 January 2018 a "Late 16th - Early 17th century" Saint Norbert of Xanten, estimated at 3,500 to 4,000 Euro.

The description correctly refers to his preachings in Antwerp and his founding of the order of the Premonstratensians. The painting shows the Antwerp Cathedral (to the left), and the tower of the Saint Michael's Abbey in Antwerp (which was founded by Saint Norbert) to the right. Interest in this painting will probably mainly come from Antwerp or people linked to the Premonstratensians, it isn't very interesting from a purely artistic point of view.

The same topic has been treated a few times, including the above anonymous drawing from the same period which fails to identify the Saint (information from the RKD, drawing from the Scottish National Gallery). It shows the same two church towers, though less architecturally correct. That the topic was popular in this period was because he wsa a Catholic saint preaching against schismatic "sects" (the Tanchelins for Saint Norbert, the Lutherans and other Protestant branches in the late 16th century). Antwerp had suffered badly under the religious wars.

View of Antwerp

Bukowski's, from Sweden, sells on 12 June 2016 a "Dutch School, 18th century" view of a city with strollers, estimated at 30,000 SEK (3,250 Euro).

It is a view of the Meir, at the time the main street of Antwerp (and now the main shopping street, the second most expensive street in the Belgian version of Monopoly). The large tower in the background is the spire of the Antwerp Cathedral (the second, identical spire has never been finished). The cityscape is nearly identical to some works by Erasmus de Bie (Antwerp, 1629-1675; example from the collection of the Rockoxhuis pictured first, example sold at Sotheby's in 2002 for £35,000 second) but is not by him and, looking at the clothing, should probably be dated slightly later (early 18th century).

It isn't a good painting, artistically, but historically and culturally these views of Antwerp are important and very popular, and if some people recognise the view it should easily fetch the estimate. Better versions, e.g. by Frans de Momper (a reverse view of the Meir, example sold at Dorotheum pictured), can go for 50,000 Euro. Other painters like Alexander van Bredael also painted nearly the same view, but all are better than what is for sale here.

The most comparable version is probably the one from the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, which is also anonymous and dated to the 18th century (picture via Balat).

UPDATE: not sold, highest bid was only a miserable 783 Euro. 

Mystical Marriage from Antwerp

At John McInnis, auctioneer in Massachusetts, they sell a 18th/19th century Italian School "Jesus putting ring on finger", estimated at $2,000 to $3,000.

It is a "Mystical Marriage of Saint Catherine", apparently an early copy after an original from the Antwerp School (reminds me of compositions by Jordaens or Van Dyck). I wasn't able to find an original for this, nor a name for the copyist, but it is a nice composition and an interesting example of the Antwerp Baroque School of painting. Probably not worth more than the estimate, but worth a better description and situation. UPDATE: sold for $1,000.

Ignatius before his church

At Tajan, 25 March 2015, they sell a portrait of Ignatius of Loyola (?) before the Virgin, attributed to the 17th century Antwerp School, estimated at 4,000 to 6,000 Euro. I don't expect the image to exceed that estimate, if it even makes so much, as it isn't the most attractive (it almost looks like three or four works put together, with the tower to the right not integrated in either the landscape or the foreground, the Virgin painted in a style vaguely reminiscent of Early Netherlandish painting, Ignatius painted more modern but less accomplished, the background wall boring and unrealistic, but some nice flowers on the floor...

Then why this blog post? Well, the rather detailed depiction of the tower on the right drew my attention. It is the tower of the Carolus Borromeus church in the center of Antwerp, a church well known to all Rubens lovers as he painted the ceilings and probably designed elements of the church as well. Sadly, the ceiling paintings were lost after a fire, and most of the other artwork in the church was painted at the time of the French Revolution.

What I didn't get was why Ignatius of Loyola was depicted together with the Borromeus church tower, but it turns out that it originally wasn't a Carolus Borromeus church, but a church dedicated to Ignatius (also the patron saint of the nearby university).

So this painting was originally either inside the church, or for someone closely associated with it (the parish priest or something similar).

I contacted the people currently curating the artwork of the Church and its museum, as it would be great if they could again acquire this. No idea if they are interested and/or have the means to do this though.

UPDATE: not sold, again for sale at Tajan on 15 October 2015 with a revised estimate of 3,000 to 5,000 Euro.

UPDATE 2: this time sold for 7,150 Euro, which is even more than the original estimate! Someone missed out on a bargain 6 months ago. I wonder if the buyer has read my blog :-)

View of Antwerp

At David Duggleby, 16 March 2015, a watercolour of a "Busy Continental Quayside" by Paul Marny (1829-1914), estimated at £250 to £350.  UPDATE: sold for £340. Nothing wrong with any of this, just wanted to add that it is clearly the quayside of Antwerp. Very nice atmospheric painting, not great art but great decoration and good value for your money.

Above is a coloured photograph of nearly the same view, from the late 19th century.