Saint Willibrord

Description

A prolific draftsman and influential figure for the Utrecht Caravaggisti, Abraham Bloemaert here portrayed the patron saint of the Netherlands and first Bishop of Utrecht, Saint Willibrord. Active circa 700, Willibrord is credited with introducing Christianity to present-day Netherlands and Belgium. In this and in the several other representations of this saint drawn by Bloemaert, Willibrord is shown holding a cathedral, a symbol of his pioneering efforts to establish a monastery and a cathedral in the city of Utrecht. Bloemaert showed the saint in his clerical regalia; he is made especially imposing by being depicted as if from below.

Provenance

Dionys Muilman (1702–1772), Amsterdam; sold, Amsterdam, Mar. 29, 1773, Kunstboek H, lot 591.  Cornelis Ploos van Amstel (1726–1798), Amsterdam [inscription (Lugt 3002–4), verso, lower left, in pen and brown ink]; possibly sold, Amsterdam, Mar. 3, 1800, Kunstboek G, lot 26.  J de Bosch; sold, Amsterdam, Apr. 6, 1812, Kunstboek B, lot 43. Carel Emil Duits (1882–1969), Amsterdam [stamp (Lugt 533a), recto, lower right, in red]. Prof. Einar Perman (1893–1976), Stockholm, by 1953 [Stockholm 1953].  Sold, Sotheby's, New York, Jan. 27, 2010, lot 9, to Dorothy Braude Edinburg, Brookline, Mass.; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 2013.

Saint Willibrord

Abraham Bloemaert

1625/30

Accession Number

204307

Medium

Pen and brown ink and brush and brown wash, with opaque white watercolor, over charcoal, on cream laid paper prepared with a blue wash

Dimensions

24.2 × 16.1 cm (9 9/16 × 6 3/8 in.)

Classification

pen and ink drawings

Museum

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

Credit Line

Gift of Dorothy Braude Edinburg to the Harry B. and Bessie K. Braude Memorial Collection