Chrispijn Van Den Broeck (1523-1591) - The Last Supper - 16th Century Period Around 1560

Period 16th century around 1560 Oil on oak panel, two boards joined Presented in a powerful carved wooden frame, model called "à Cassetta" Framed size: 96 x 110 cm. Panel alone: 73 x 88 cm This very beautiful Antwerp Mannerist painting painted around 1560 is attributed to the painter Chrispijn van den Broeck, born in Mechelen in 1523 and died in Antwerp between 1589 and February 6, 1591. His technique is very fluid, he uses bright, acidulous and very diluted colors, which he applies to a prepared panel of which the underlying drawing can be seen in places. The subject is The Last Supper (In Italian: L'Ultima Cena, or "the Last Meal"), the meal that Christ took with the twelve Apostles on the evening of Holy Thursday. The composition is in keeping with tradition, Jesus in the centre under a canopy, with Saint John leaning over him, the twelve apostles are very present, with Judas in the foreground on the right, dressed in yellow (the colour of betrayal). The light enters through two arched openings, the one on the left would allow a view of the Place della Signoria in Florence? Chrispijn van den Broeck, born in Mechelen into a family of artists, is the son of the painter Jan van den Broeck who surely trained him. He is registered in 1555 as a master at the Guild of Saint Luke. Documents attest to his collaboration with Frans Floris, this Antwerp painter had travelled to Italy and had immersed himself in the artists he had met during his stay. Towards the end of his life, Floris was no longer able to paint because of his addiction to alcohol, so it was Chrispijn van den Broeck who completed the commissions with the help of Pourbus the Elder. In 1559, Van den Broeck became a citizen of the city of Antwerp, married Barbara de Bruyn and had a daughter who became an engraver. In 1584, van de Broeck resided in Middelburg for a short time to escape the political and religious unrest in Antwerp. His name is last mentioned in the Guild registers of 1589 in connection with the payment of an order. His wife is mentioned as a widow on 6 February 1591. Chrispijn van den Broeck must therefore have died between 1589 and 6 February 1591, most likely in Antwerp. Only a small number of paintings attributable to Chrispijn van den Broeck have survived to this day, and they are very rarely signed. In inventories from the 16th and 17th centuries in Antwerp, Van den Broeck's work is regularly mentioned, which indicates that his production must have been significant. Although there is no evidence that the artist visited Italy, his work shows the influence of the Venetian Jacopo Bassano in the use of large, solid figures set in a landscape. As he was a pupil and collaborator of the Romanist Frans Floris who studied in Italy, he may have received Italian influence from his master. He may also have seen Italian artworks. Van den Broeck also adopted Floris' technique of applying a brown preparatory base beneath the main colours of his paintings. His palette favours pinks, browns, greys and yellows. Beautiful condition, sold with a certificate.