Lot 1057 D α

The motif of the Transfiguration of Christ is based on a story from the Gospels. Peter, James, and John went with Jesus to Tabor Mountain east of Nazareth and it is recorded that, "There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." in Matthew 17:1-8. Two important figures from the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah, are also said to have appeared beside Jesus and a voice was heard declaring Jesus to be the son of God. This moment is reminiscent of the baptism story, in which a voice from a cloud spoke the same words. In the transfiguration story, God's voice adds "Listen to him!". The disciples at first react fearfully, but Christ calms them. He requests that no one should speak of what they have seen until he has risen from the dead.
Van Herps' oeuvre concentrates primarily on interior scenes and religious motifs. His works, and especially his religious compositions, betray the influence of Peter Paul Rubens and Jacob Jordaens, whereas his kitchen interiors and genre scenes show more similarity to the works of David Teniers and the followers of Adriaen Brouwers.