After Gerard Thomas, The Artist's Studio, 1700, Oil on Canvas

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Gerard thomas (antwerp 1663-1720) attributed to

the artist's studio

oil on canvas (99 x 115 cm - framed 70 x … Read more Gerard thomas (antwerp 1663-1720) attributed to

the artist's studio

oil on canvas (99 x 115 cm - framed 70 x 86 cm)

this fascinating painting, depicting the interior of an artist's studio, is attributed to gerard thomas (antwerp 1663-1720), a late baroque flemish painter known for his genre paintings depicting interiors of artists' studios, art galleries, and scenes of alchemists or physicians in their studies.

he was born in antwerp, where he trained as an apprentice and became a master of the guild of saint luke in 1688-89, later holding the position of dean, the highest position.

this theme is influenced by the tradition of the wunderkammer (literally, "cabinet of wonders" in italian), which spread between the 16th and 18th centuries in noble and intellectual residences, anticipating the modern concept of the museum and stimulating the desire of wealthy flemish merchants to collect and display rare and precious objects along with works of art of all kinds.

our beautiful work, in particular, executed around the early 18th century, represents a remarkable example of his production: we see an important artist in his studio, surrounded by three young apprentices eager to learn the secrets of the painter's craft, practicing painting on canvas and drawing from sculptural models.

a version similar to ours, in composition and quality, is found in rome, in the collection of palazzo doria pamphilj.

*gerard thomas, the artist's studio, galleria doria pamphilj, rome, inv./cat. No. 541

what makes these paintings special is the rich detail with which the painter enriches the setting, revealing his taste for depicting opulent, elegantly furnished bourgeois environments, which alluded to both the wealth and artistic sensibility of the wealthy patrons.

the setting is a whimsical display of objects related to the art and culture of the period, expertly displayed, including a persian rug resting on the writing desk, a beautiful celestial globe on a pedestal, an ancient classical marble vase adorned with bas-reliefs, and numerous sculptures (one can recognize the sculptural group with two wrestlers, positioned above a bas-relief altar, reminiscent of those in the uffizi gallery), drawings, and sketches scattered haphazardly throughout the room.

finally, the room is dotted with numerous paintings, one of which is a recognizable "boar hunt" by the flemish master frans snyders, a specialist in this genre, and purposely included by the painter as a refined reference.

besides being the artist's signature objects (we find the exact same detail in the boar hunt scene), which we find in his other works, they are identifying symbols of the patron, alluding to his social superiority and wealth, his professionalism, his culture, and his passion for art—in short, attributes intended to demonstrate his "social status."

for comparison, consider some of the master's works now held in various museums, including:

- gerard thomas, the artist's studio, galleria doria pamphilj (fig. 1)
- gerard thomas, the painter's studio, royal museum of fine arts antwerp (fig. 2)
- gerard thomas, interior of a painter's studio, sotheby's amsterdam, 11/09/1999, lot 64, (fig. 3)
- gerard thomas, the artist's studio, sotheby's london, 12/03/99, sold for €58,106 (fig. 4)
- gerard thomas, a collector in his workshop, royal collection (fig. 5)
- gerard thomas (1663-1720), the sculptor's studio/the visit of the tax collector, alte pinakothek munich (fig. 6/fig. 7)
- gerard thomas, a sculptor's studio, dorotheum vienna, 1996-10-15, lot number: 134 (fig. 8)

the painting is in good condition and is accompanied from an antique black lacquered frame.

additional information:

this work is sold with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



issues arising from misattribution See less