Saint Peter

Nicolaes Claas Pietersz. Berchem (Dutch, 1620–1683)

1644

Medium/TechniqueOil on panel

Dimensions61.6 x 48.9 cm (24 1/4 x 19 1/4 in.)
Framed: 83.5 x 71.1 x 6 cm (32 7/8 x 28 x 2 3/8 in.)

Credit LineGift of Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo in support of the Center for Netherlandish Art

Accession number2017.4193

On View

On view

ClassificationsPaintings

Collections

Europe

Description

Nicolaes Berchem painted this head study of Saint Peter when he was just twenty-four. He depicted the apostle with his mouth partly open, eyes lost in thought. To achieve the texture of the curls of the beard and hair, Berchem scraped away the wet oil paint with the end of his brush. Thick paint strokes accentuate the flesh tones of the wrinkled face. The artist’s loose style owes much to the example of Frans Hals, whose work hangs nearby.

Provenance19th century, reportedly in Scottish possession [see note 1]. Possibly Arthur Kay (b. 1860 - d. 1939), Glasgow [see note 2]. 1890s, acquired from an unidentified collection, Vienna, by Dr. John E. Stillwell (b. 1899- d. 1927), New York; December 1-3, 1927, John E. Stillwell estate sale, Anderson Galleries, New York, lot 235 (as “Nicholaus Berghem”), sold for $1000 to Henry Blank (b. 1872 - d. 1949), Glen Ridge, NJ; November 16, 1949, Henry Blank estate sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, lot 29, sold for $600 to Lock Galleries, New York [see note 3]. Baron Jean Germain Léon Cassel van Doorn (b. 1882 - d. 1952), Englewood, NJ; December 9, 1955, posthumous Baron van Doorn sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, lot 46, sold to Dr. Miklos Rozsa (b. 1907 - d. 1995), Hollywood, CA; January 11, 1996, Property of the Miklos Rozsa Trust and others sale, Sotheby's, New York, lot 99, to Johnny Van Haeften Ltd., London, for Eijk and Rose-Marie van Otterloo, Marblehead, MA; 2017, gift of Eijk and Rose-Marie van Otterloo to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 14, 2017)

NOTES:
[1] According to G. Frank Muller, "Two Portraits Heads by Claesz Pietersz Berchem," Art in America (1919), p. 80.

[2] According to the Witt Library photomount, this painting was in the collection of "A. Kay", dates not specified.

[3] According to the 1996 Sotheby's catalogue.