The book and illustrative exhibition "The Great Portrait Painter from Flanders", dedicated to the 425th anniversary of the birth of the Flemish artist Antonis Van Dyck (1599–1641), runs from March 20 to April 15 in the Art Documents reading room (room 306).
An outstanding representative of Flemish art during its heyday, a master of religious and mythological subjects, a subtle draughtsman and etcher, Van Dyck entered the history of world painting, primarily as a great portraitist. Before starting to paint a portrait, he spent a long time looking for a solution to embody the idea: he observed the movements of the head and eyes of the person being portrayed, noticed the peculiarities of the position of the body and hands, analyzed gestures and facial expressions, through which he caught the features of nature, the emotional and intellectual world of a person. According to the deep psychological characteristics of the people depicted by him, one can judge not only the brilliant skill of Van Dyck, the painter, but also his extraordinary mind and subtle insight.
Despite the fact that Van Dyck lived for only 42 years, he left a grandiose creative legacy. The exhibition presents reproductions of his paintings that adorn the best museums in the world. For example, it is worth seeing works on religious subjects that are not a priority in the artist's work and are exhibited less often. Among them are "Rest on the way to Egypt (Madonna with Partridges)", "Caesar's Denarius", "Crucifixion", "Mourning for Christ", "Apostle Peter". The artist's works on mythological subjects will also be interesting: "Cupid and Psyche", "Samson and Delilah", "Drunk Silen". Looking at these reproductions, visitors themselves can act as art historians and compare the works of Van Dyck and Rubens in this genre.
Antonis Van Dyck is the creator of the genre variety of the ceremonial aristocratic portrait of the XVII century. So, his brush belongs to the magnificent canvases "Portrait of Charles I on the hunt", "Portrait of Sir Thomas Chaloner", "Marquis Balbi", "Portrait of Cardinal Guido Bentivoglio", reproductions of which are presented at the exhibition. The people depicted in the paintings are distinguished by demonstrative and confident gestures, proud posture, representativeness and impressiveness, dignity and nobility. Van Dyck's skill in depicting the luxurious clothes of the portrayed, shiny jewelry and satin fabrics, effectively flowing folds of robes and draperies is impressive. At the same time, more sincere and sincere portraits of children, images of friends and acquaintances of the artist, painted with special warmth, attract attention. It is difficult to take your eyes off the excellent "Portrait of Cornelis van der Geest", a Flemish art patron and collector, a friend of Rubens, who looks with a piercing gaze, as if knowing everything about the viewer. The famous self-portrait of the artist also deserves attention, where an elegant aristocrat with "beautiful delicate features and thoroughbred appearance" appears before us.
The exhibition is complemented by articles and monographs about Van Dyck, written by researchers of the portraitist's work. Among them is the publication of the English art historian, the curator of the collections of Dutch and Flemish paintings at the London National Gallery Christopher Brown, specialists in Flemish art from the State Hermitage Museum, French and German art historians. Special attention should be paid to the publication of Max Roses "Anthony Van Dyck in his selected works" (1901), which presents 50 photographic prints reproducing paintings that were at the Antwerp Exhibition in 1899, as well as detailed explanations to them, helping to reveal the secrets of the great painter's skill.
The opening hours of exhibitions corresponds to the library’s opening hours.
Entrance to exhibitions is available by the library ticket or ticket of the library's social and cultural centre.
For more info: (+375 17) 293 27 53.
The material was provided by the Service Department of Specialized Funds.
