Barbara van den Broeck

Barbara van den Broeck was the daughter of Crispijn van den Broeck, a pupil of Frans Floris and a prominent Romanist, who from 1559 onwards was influential as a painter, draughtsman and engraver in Antwerp. Little is known of her life and work. She produced a modest oeuvre of very rare prints after inventions by her father, by whom she was probably also taught, and signed her engravings “Barbara fecit” or “Barbara filia”. 

The present engraving is modelled on a preliminary drawing by her father that is now in a private collection in Belgium. A work of great charm, it is remarkable for its compact and confident composition. The elements are personified by adolescent boys, whose poses are keenly observed and sensitively rendered. Barbara’s engraving style is both intricate and highly sophisticated and, in its unassuming faithfulness to the original, true to the characteristics of the so-called Antwerp style, as represented by such reproductive engravers as Crispijn van den Broeck, Cornelis Cort and Philips Galle. Only three impressions of the first state are known to exist. The present state is also very rare – Ursula Mielke lists just two impressions in Coburg and Copenhagen respectively. A fine, even impression with very fine thread margins around the platemark. Minor ageing, otherwise in perfect condition.

12.000 €