Leonaert Bramer (Delft, 1596-Delft, 1674)
A set of twelve scenes of the life of Christ, c. 1660-1670
All watercolor and gouache on parchment, mounted on laid papers with identified watermark.
approx. 125 x 97 mm each (framed: 74 x 83.5 cm).
CHF 17'600.-
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Leonaert Bramer stands out as a remarkable and intriguing figure among the painters and draughtsmen of the Dutch Golden Age. Early in his life, he traveled extensively to France and...
Leonaert Bramer stands out as a remarkable and intriguing figure among the painters and draughtsmen of the Dutch Golden Age. Early in his life, he traveled extensively to France and Rome, earning the nickname "Leonardo della Notte" for his night-themed paintings. Upon returning to Delft in 1628, he joined the Guild of Saint Luke and formed a close relationship with the renowned Johannes Vermeer. An archival document from April 4, 1653, reveals that Leonaert Bramer visited the mother of Johannes Vermeer's future wife, Catharina Thins, advocating for their marriage. This has led to speculation that Leonaert Bramer may have been Johannes Vermeer's teacher, though no concrete evidence supports this claim
The current collection of twelve watercolors embodies the distinctive style of Leonaert Bramer. His brushstroke is energetic, his palette is vibrant and his use of light and shadow expressive, creating dynamic compositions. Additionally, the watercolors have a notable provenance. Mounted on laid papers featuring the Hollandia watermark from the 18th century, each piece bears the artist's name, "Leonaert Bramer", and annotations identifying the subjects and corresponding gospel chapters and verses. Originally, these twelve pieces were part of a larger set that included at least three other known watercolors (see Watercolors from the same set, below). In the 19th century, René della Faille de Waerloos likely owned fourteen of these watercolors, which were sold in 1904 after his death. In 1968, the collection passed through C. G. Boerner in Düsseldorf before being acquired by David Carter, former director of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and his wife Louise. The Carters, who owned a significant art collection, lent these watercolors for two exhibitions.
The present scenes depict: 1. The Transfiguration; 2. The Stoning of Christ; 3. Christ at Gethsemane; 4. The Betrayal of Christ; 5. Christ before Caiaphas; 6. Pilate washing his Hands; 7. The Flagellation of Christ; 8. The Mocking of Christ; 9. The Way to Calvary; 10. The Deposition; 11. The Entombment; 12. The Resurrection.
Watercolors from the same set:
Adoration of the Shepherds (Montreal, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts collection, 1969.1619).
Adoration of the Magi (Montreal, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts collection, 1969.1620).
Christ's Entry into Jerusalem (Milwaukee, private collection; on loan to the Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, XL 1989.4.2).
Circumcision of Christ (Gouda, White Rosen Fine Art; private collection).
The current collection of twelve watercolors embodies the distinctive style of Leonaert Bramer. His brushstroke is energetic, his palette is vibrant and his use of light and shadow expressive, creating dynamic compositions. Additionally, the watercolors have a notable provenance. Mounted on laid papers featuring the Hollandia watermark from the 18th century, each piece bears the artist's name, "Leonaert Bramer", and annotations identifying the subjects and corresponding gospel chapters and verses. Originally, these twelve pieces were part of a larger set that included at least three other known watercolors (see Watercolors from the same set, below). In the 19th century, René della Faille de Waerloos likely owned fourteen of these watercolors, which were sold in 1904 after his death. In 1968, the collection passed through C. G. Boerner in Düsseldorf before being acquired by David Carter, former director of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and his wife Louise. The Carters, who owned a significant art collection, lent these watercolors for two exhibitions.
The present scenes depict: 1. The Transfiguration; 2. The Stoning of Christ; 3. Christ at Gethsemane; 4. The Betrayal of Christ; 5. Christ before Caiaphas; 6. Pilate washing his Hands; 7. The Flagellation of Christ; 8. The Mocking of Christ; 9. The Way to Calvary; 10. The Deposition; 11. The Entombment; 12. The Resurrection.
Watercolors from the same set:
Adoration of the Shepherds (Montreal, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts collection, 1969.1619).
Adoration of the Magi (Montreal, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts collection, 1969.1620).
Christ's Entry into Jerusalem (Milwaukee, private collection; on loan to the Haggerty Museum of Art, Marquette University, XL 1989.4.2).
Circumcision of Christ (Gouda, White Rosen Fine Art; private collection).
Provenance
Made by Leonaert Bramer in Delft c.1660-1670 alongside at least three other watercolors originally from the same set.The Netherlands, anonymous collector, 18th century (the watercolors are all mounted on a Dutch paper with the "Maid of Dort" form of the Pro Patria watermark and were placed together in an album).
Antwerp, collection of René della Faille Waerloos (fourteen watercolors).
Amsterdam, his sale, Frederik Müller & Co, January 19, 1904, part of lot 59.
Amsterdam, collection of Frederick Müller.
Düsseldorf, collection of C. G. Boerner, 1968.
New Haven, collection of David and Louis Carter (twelve watercolors).
New York, their sale, Sotheby's, January 27, 2021, lot 90.
Switzerland, private collection.
Exhibitions
Works on paper: Princeton Alumni Collections, Princeton, The Princeton Art Museum, 26 April-21 June 1981.Leonaert Bramer, 1596-1674: A Painter of the Night, Milwaukee, Beatrice Haggerty Museum of Art, 1992.
Literature
PUBLISHED INH. Wichmann, Leonaert Bramer, sein Leben und seine Kunst, Leipzig, 1923, p. 170, n° 102.
Works on paper: Princeton Alumni Collections, exhibition catalogue (Princeton, The Princeton Art Museum, 26 April-21 June 1981), 1982, p. 60-65.
Leonaert Bramer 1596-1674: A Painter of the Night, exhibition catalogue (Milwaukee, Beatrice Haggerty Museum of Art, 1992), Milwaukee, n° 35-49.
M. Plomp, "Appendix II. List of Drawing set", in Leonaert Bramer 1596-1674: Ingenious Painter and Draughtsman in Rome and Delft, exhibition catalogue (Delft, Museum het Prinsenhof, 1994), ed. J. ten Brink Goldsmith, P. Huys Janssen, M. Kersten, J. M. Montias, M. Plomp, A. Q. van Ufford, Zwolle and Delft, 1994, n° 9.