The duet. The painter Theodor Rombouts and his wife.

item details

NameThe duet. The painter Theodor Rombouts and his wife.

ProductionSchelte Bolswert; engraver (printmaker); Mid 17th century; Flanders
Theodor Rombouts; artist

Classificationprints, engravings, self-portraits, works on paper

Materialsink, paper

Materials Summaryengraving

Techniquesengraving

DimensionsImage: 340mm (width), 282mm (height)

Registration Number1869-0001-46

Credit lineGift of Bishop Monrad, 1869

Overview

Schelte a Bolswert (1586–1659) was a leading Dutch engraver, noted for his works after the great Flemish artists of the first half of the 17th century, Rubens, Van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens. The subjects of this charming engraving are the important Flemish follower of Caravaggio, Theodoor Rombouts (1597-1637) and his wife Anna van Thielen. It is based on an original painting by Rombouts, a copy of which was sold at auction (18 March 2016). The print is variously entitled 'The duet', as here, 'Singing couple' (Boymans Museum) - except Anna's expression is too muted to suggest this - and The painter Theodor Rombouts and his Wife with Sheet Music and a Lute (Rijksmuseum). The Latin inscription at the bottom of the plate states that music 'invigorates the miserable and offers comfort to the weary', which the Antewrp sound hits of c. 1635 surely did!

Dr Mark Stocker Curator, Historical International Art October 2018