David Colijns (circa 1582 - 1664/66), The Legend Of William Tell

David Colijns
Dutch painter
Rotterdam circa 1582 – 1664/1666 Amsterdam
The legend of William Tell
Oil on canvas : 52,6 X 83,2 cm
Unsigned, circa 1625/1630
Frame : 72,3 X 102,5 cm

Published by Jan Briels in “Vlaamse schilders in de Noordelijke Nederlanden in het begin van de Gouden Eeuw”, 1987, P. 69, Pl. 60.
Published by Eric Jan Sluijter in “Rembrandt’s rivals”, 2015, Fig. IV-5.
Provenance : before 1987 with Gallery Jan De Maere, Brussels.

At the start of the 14^th century the successful apple shot with a crossbow by the local hero William Tell initiated the Swiss revolt in the canton of Uri against the Austrian oppressor.
I know of only three Flemish or Dutch 17^th century paintings representing this rare theme of William Tell shooting an arrow at an apple on his son’s head: two by Joos de Momper II and our painting. In all three versions the boy has turned his back to his father.
David Colijns was born in Rotterdam but he spent his complete career in the Dutch metropolis of Amsterdam. Many 17^th century painters used different spellings for their proper name. Colijns used “Colijns”, “Colyns”, “Colijn” and “Celijns”.

All my paintings stand fully documented on my website:
https://www.jeanmoust.com/categories/biblical-mythological-and-allegorical-scenes/colijns- david-2023/the-legend-of-william-tell-4312268