Offered by Bruil & Brandsma
This extraordinary grisaille depicts a group of eleven putti taking up the cross into heaven with the instruments of the Passion in the foreground. The plump putti are characteristic of the Baroque work of Pieter van Avont (Mechelen, 1600 - Deurne, 1652), who painted this picture when he was active in Antwerp between 1622 and 1652.
The present work, bearing all stylistic traits of the Flemish master, has been reproduced as an etch by a close friend of Van Avont: Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677). This Bohemian graphic artist, who predominantly worked in England for the majority of his career, fled to Antwerp in 1646 as a result of the English Civil War and resided there until 1652. During this time, Hollar and Van Avont became close friends: Catharina van ’t Kint, Van Avont’s second wife, was chosen as godmother to Hollar’s daughter.
The etching by Hollar (last image) after the present composition, further testifies to the authorship of Van Avont because of the inscription it bears: ‘Pet.(er) van Avont inven. et excud. Cum Privilegio’ (Invented and executed by Pieter van Avont. With permission). During his stay in Antwerp, Hollar continues to produce many etchings after designs by Van Avont, with most of the original works appearing to now be lost. Furthermore, this painting is included in the 1783 sales catalogue of François Jacques Nicole at auctionhouse Spruyt in Ghent. In this early provenance, the painting is described as: 'Een schoon stuksken, van boven gecirculeert, verbeeldende de Instrumenten van de Passie Christi, met Elf Engelkens' (A fine piece, circulated at the top, depicting the Instruments of the Passion Christ, with eleven angels).
In the foreground are the instruments of the Passion: a dish for vinegar, the crown of thorns, the INRI inscription, a hammer, pincers and nails, a scourge and a sponge on a stick. One of the angels holds a spear. The face of Christ on Veronica's canvas is clearly depicted. The INRI inscription translates to: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews'. According to the Gospel accounts, this was the inscription ordered by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, to be placed above Jesus during the crucifixion. It was meant to indicate the charge against Jesus — that he claimed to be the "King of the Jews," a title which the Roman authorities saw as a political threat. The inscription was written in three languages: Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that it could be understood by a broad audience present at the crucifixion. The abbreviation INRI comes from the Latin version.
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