Leonaert Bramer - Martyrdom of a Saint - image-1

Lot 1539 Dα

Leonaert Bramer - Martyrdom of a Saint

Auction 1185 - overview Cologne
20.11.2021, 11:00 - Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture 14th - 19th C.
Estimate: 5.000 € - 8.000 €
Result: 10.625 € (incl. premium)

Leonaert Bramer

Martyrdom of a Saint

Oil on slate. 29.5 x 22.5 cm.

Paintings on slate are unusual in Dutch painting. The only Dutch painter known to have used this material as a substrate was Leonaert Bramer, who settled in Delft following a stay of several years in Italy, rising to become the leading painter in the city. It is likely that Bramer first encountered the use of slate as a substrate whilst in Italy, as it was relatively common there. The artist also played an important role in the dissemination of chiaroscuro painting from Italy to Holland. His unique style is characterised by dramatic plays of light, often deriving from artificial light sources such as the burning torch used in the present work, and a penchant for nocturnal scenes to facilitate these effects, alongside a colour palette dominated by shades of grey and brown.<BR>This painting is registered with the RKD in The Hague under the number 217079 as an authentic work by this artist.

Provenance

Sotheby's, London, 29.4.2010, lot 173.