More treasures from the Van Dyck exhibition at the Jacquemart-Andre
Now for another facet of Van Dyck's persona. He has become the favorite painter of ill-fated King Charles I. The artist beautifully captures the elegance of his model.
And another lady, this time an English aristocrat, Lady Killigrew. Note how different her dress, in the low-cut French style, is from that of the modestly ruffed Flemish lady in the family portrait above. The colors here are wonderful, but I can't help missing the insightful artist of the earlier Anvers period.
Posted by Catherine Delors at 11/30/2008 12:09 AM 
Categories: Van Dyck,art,Exhibition,Jacquemart-Andre
Tags: Van Dyck art Exhibition Jacquemart-Andre
Categories: Van Dyck,art,Exhibition,Jacquemart-Andre
Tags: Van Dyck art Exhibition Jacquemart-Andre
Nice blog...
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Catherine,
I totally agree with you - I prefer Van Dyck's earlier period as well. The family portrait - particularly the parent's expressions - makes you feel intimately connected to them. You feel as though you know them on an emotional level. Thanks so much for sharing these different aspects of his work. Jaime A
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You are most welcome, Jaime! It makes you wonder what would have happened if Van Dyck had followed up on the extraordinary promise of his early works, doesn't it?
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Super duper elegent aren't they?
We have some beauties at the new York Met..one never tires of looking at them.
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Very elegant, Carol! Many of the works on display at the Jacquemart-Andre are from the Ermitage, which from a personal standpoint was nice because I never get a chance to go to St-Petersburg. I have the Frick on my to-do list for my next visit to NY, hopefully in January, and will make a note to visit the Van Dycks at the Met as well.
Did you see the Josephine's antiques show at Malmaison? I am swamped with unfun stuff these days and didn't find the time to go there myself.
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I just love browsing through your blog! Thank you for taking the time to write such beautiful posts!
Judith~
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I am happy to be able to return the compliment, Judith. I love your blog, and will have to link to your Bagatelle post. Place Royale too...
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You are right, the faces are so different from Flemish family to Lady Killigrew. In fact, her expression looks so different from the Flemish. was there a religious difference that would make her look less modest than the Flemish?
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Not as much a matter or religion as national style. The Court of England was very much under French influence (in particular that of Queen Henrietta Maria.) Flanders, on the other hand, was under the sway of Spain. Both were Protestant, under the stylistic influence of Catholic countries. But I think it is fair to say that Spanish Catholicism is far more austere than its French counterpart.
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I too prefer many of Van Dyck's earlier paintings, at least as far as the fashion element goes. His English court paintings, particularly the women, are heavily "classicised" and don't truly relate to fashionable dress, which was still far more structured and solid than this. Nobody actually wore flowing sleeves held on with jewelled clasps, and I don't think many pre-Restoration dresses were quite this plunging! It has a lot to do with the fashion for neo-Platonic romance that featured strongly at Henriette Marie's court. It was also an attempt to create a timeless, Arcadian image, not tied to a specific fashion (though the hairdos are usually a fair indicator of the date).
I think the portrait of Louisa Maria de Tassis is one of my favourite Van Dycks. I'm sort of sorry he wasn't able to do a full portrait of Louis XIII; the little equestrian sketch that remains doesn't really give any idea of what the result might have been. I confess I can't quite imagine the result of such a painting - it would have been a curious contrast to de Champagne's magnificently grounded works.
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