Skip to main content

Downstairs V and VI


Back to historic interiors

I am still in love with the original interiors of old manor houses. Last year, Paul and I went on a short research tour, visiting several estates in the North of the country. Most of them are museums nowadays, while some are still private houses and are normally closed to the public. 

Observing all those marvellous halls and drawing rooms, libraries and boudoirs is great. However,  I am particularly fond of the downstairs area. It is usually less rebuilt or demolished and it has a wonderful nostalgic atmosphere inside. 

Learning about how it used to be is always nice and important. The past is the foundation for the future, don't you agree?

So, I am continuing to paint my series 'Downstairs'. These two are the fifth and the sixth in the series and depict a part of the kitchen in the Mensinge manor house in Drenthe. I spent a lovely afternoon there last May, being helped by some very kind volunteers.    
    
Downstairs V: oil on canvas 30 x 40 cm, alla prima, limited palette.
Downstairs VI: oil on panel 30 x 40 cm, alla prima, limited palette.  

View the finished painting in my gallery.




Exhibitions:
- Driedaagse Expo at Het Stalhuus. June 2024, Hollum

Downstairs VI were sold in June 2024 during the show to private collectors E. and R. H. in Hollum.

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for your message. I will replay as soon as I can

Popular posts from this blog

Artist's Home

  Ameland Views on the Walls of the Artist's Home  A couple of weeks ago, I received a very special commission from the Eiland van Verhalen . The client requested that I design a background decoration for their stage show - a kind of illustration that would combine the iconic views of all four villages on the island. The final piece needed to be in a certain proportion, as it will be printed on a screen measuring 4 by 2.3 meters. I proposed the idea of creating a "paintings painting", featuring the interior of an island house adorned with paintings on the walls, each one depicting recognisable landmarks from the villages. This idea appealed to me as it presented a nice challenge and an opportunity to create a genuine painting. The client agreed that it was an interesting concept.  I had five weeks to complete the commission. Paul and I went across the island, taking hundreds of photographs for reference. I decided to use the interior of our own home as the compositional t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Master Studies

  Studying  I believe that practice is the best form of learning, and master copying is the most effective to practice while studying. Since we always (aspire to) learn, I find that copying a masterpiece that inspires you is an excellent method to achieve this.  In essence, master copying is not about creating perfect replicas; instead, it's about gaining a deeper understanding of artistic principles and techniques. It's a valuable tool for any artist seeking to improve their skills and expand their knowledge.  From time to time, I will update this post with my new master studies. Here are some: May 2025 After J.C. Leyendecker painting "Couple on Deck Chairs. 1904" I have been fascinated by the works and biography of this great Golden Age artist for a long time. Recently, I finally read a beautiful book titled simply, "J.C. Leyendecker", written by Laurence S. Cutler and Judy Goffman Cutler. His name and influence were most prolific; his private life was kep...
Post a Comment
Read more

Matthew's POV

Challenging a masterpiece Since I've always wanted to learn more about chiaroscuro and tenebrism, I thought it would be useful to try and master-copy a (detail of a) tenebrist masterpiece. And what is my favourite painting by the great Master of Tenebrism? The Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio, of course.  I can stare at this painting (or the photographs and videos of it) for hours, exploring and still discovering numerous aspects and details, often ending with more questions than answers. The one certainty is that the composition, colours and values, poses and gestures, and most of all, the light , that plays the leading role, are the work of mind of a true genius. I spent hours trying to find out about the nature and the position of those light sources (and there were surely more than one!), yet I still don't know exactly how Caravaggio designed that setting. For a long time, I hesitated, but one day I decided to try master-copying a detail of the painting. In any case,...
Post a Comment
Read more