Skip to main content

Willem van Haecht

In the early seventeenth century, a new painting genre emerged in Antwerp: the representation of the "kunstkammer" or picture gallery. This painted picture gallery represents the collection of Cornelis van der Geest (1555-1638), one of the most prominent art collectors in Antwerp and a friend of Rubens.

Prominent guests

In the foreground he proudly shows off one of the masterpieces in his collection - a Virgin Mary and Christ Child by Quentin Massys - to his prominent guests. In the left bottom corner are the Archdukes Albert and Isabella, who ruled the Netherlands in the name of the Spanish king. To the right, behind the archduke, we can distinguish Rubens. The man behind Van der Geest is Anthony van Dyck. Nowadays Van der Geest's collection is preserved in museums all over the world.

 

Specifications

  • Willem van Haecht (1593-1637)
  • The Picture Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest
  • Oil on canvas