Where can I see The Notary Barthel van den Berghe?

The Notary Barthel van den Berghe is held by Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

What movement is The Notary Barthel van den Berghe?

The Notary Barthel van den Berghe is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.

Artwork

The Notary Barthel van den Berghe

The Notary Barthel van den Berghe is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Cornelis de Vos. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

His attire includes a dark doublet and a white ruff, emphasizing his professional status and social standing in early seventeenth-century Antwerp.

The work depicts Barthel van den Berghe, a notary, presented in a three-quarter pose typical of contemporary portraiture. His attire includes a dark doublet and a white ruff, emphasizing his professional status and social standing in early seventeenth-century Antwerp. The portrait conveys the sitter’s role through sober attire and composed demeanor, aligning with conventions for civic officials of the period.

The composition underscores the individual’s identity and professional identity rather than allegorical or symbolic content, focusing on verisimilitude and social representation.

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support, measuring 109 cm in height and 91 cm in width. The handling reflects the Antwerp tradition of the 1620s, with smooth, blended transitions in the face and carefully delineated details in the costume and accessories. The sitter’s black gown and white ruff are rendered with precise brushwork, while the background remains subdued to emphasize the notary’s presence. The condition appears stable, with no significant losses reported in the available records.

History & Provenance

The portrait The Notary Barthel van den Berghe was painted by Cornelis de Vos in 1625, as indicated by the work’s inscription and the artist’s documented activity in Antwerp during that period.

The painting entered the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, where it remains held. Its provenance within private or institutional hands prior to the museum’s acquisition is not specified in the available records.

Overview

Cornelis de Vos, a prominent Flemish painter active in early‑17th‑century Antwerp, executed this oil‑on‑canvas portrait in 1625. The work depicts a seated gentleman dressed in a dark, sumptuous robe with a crisp white ruff, his face illuminated against a muted backdrop. The composition balances the figure’s solemn demeanor with subtle details, a book, a quill, and a faint landscape that recede into shadow.

Context

Created during a period when de Vos collaborated frequently with Peter Paul Rubens, the painting reflects the broader Flemish Baroque interest in realistic, character‑focused portraiture. While de Vos is also known for religious and genre scenes, his ability to capture the individuality of patrons is evident here, aligning with contemporary expectations for civic portraiture among Antwerp’s professional class.