Artwork
Ambassador C. Pedersen Lerche with his Staff
Ambassador C. Pedersen Lerche with his Staff is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist José Antolínez. It dates from 1662 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
José Antolínez's 1662 oil painting, Ambassador C. Pedersen Lerche with his Staff, depicts a gathering of seven men, a boy, and a dog in a dimly lit room, centered around a table with a book, globe, and telescope.
Subject & Meaning
The scene focuses on the ambassador and his staff engaged in scholarly or diplomatic activities, highlighted by the boy's curious gesture towards the book, contrasting youthful inquiry with the men's intense focus.
Technique & Style
The painting utilizes chiaroscuro, leveraging strong contrasts between light and shadow to create dramatic depth, with the boy's vibrant attire serving as a visual counterpoint to the somber, dark tones of the adults' clothing and surroundings.
History & Provenance
Created in 1662 by José Antolínez, the work is currently part of the collection at the Statens Museum for Kunst.
Context
The inclusion of a telescope and globe suggests the subjects' interest in exploration and learning, reflecting the intellectual and geographical expansiveness of the 17th century.
Artist & collection
The directors of the Amsterdam civic guard of St. George in 1656
Family Portrait
Portrait of the imperial goldsmith Willem de Herde (?-1677) with his family
The governors of the guild of St. Luke, Haarlem, 1675
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Family scene
Self-portrait with the family
A Family Meal
Portrait of the Family of Dirck Jacobsz Bas (1569-1637), Burgomaster of Amsterdam, and Margriet Snoeck (1588-1645)
Portrait of the Family of Dirck Bas Jacobsz, Burgomaster of Amsterdam- Ambassador C. Pedersen Lerche with his Staff