Cornelis Bega
, Dutch, 1631/32-1664
Title
Two Men SingingDate1662
MediumOil on canvas, laid on wood panel
Dimensions
35.9 x 31.9 cm
Signedlower right: c bega A° 1662
Credit LinePurchased, 1863
Object numberNGI.28
DescriptionGrandson of the renowned Mannerist artist Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem, Bega probably trained with Adriaen van Ostade, the most significant Dutch painter of peasant scenes. A highly versatile artist, Bega was proficient in painting, drawing and etching. Although it cannot be proven, he may even have been the first artist in the northern Netherlands to have made monotypes (a print technique in which a drawing is pressed on a sheet of paper, allowing the artist to make only one impression). Bega specialised in scenes of daily life that portray the middle and lower classes in domestic interiors and taverns. His most popular subjects were drunkards, gamblers, quacks, alchemists, prostitutes and nursing mothers. This painting depicts two men singing from a score. They are surrounded by a clutter of leather-bound books, pieces of cloth and furniture. In the foreground a basse de violon is leaning against a box. The variety of objects enabled Bega to show off his skill in depicting various textures with meticulous brushwork. The palette of brownish and purplish colours is typical of the artist’s style.
March 2016
ProvenanceChristie's, 14-16 June 1849, William Hope sale, lot 92; Smith; purchased, Christie's, 7-9 November 1863, George Blamire sale, lot 70 Exhibition HistoryElegance and Uncouth Manners - Cornelis Bega, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Aachen, 15 March - 10 June 2012; Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, 29 June - 30 September 2012
Label TextA highly versatile artist, Bega specialised in scenes of daily life portraying the middle and lower classes in domestic interiors and taverns. His most popular subjects were drunkards, gamblers, quacks, alchemists and nursing mothers. This painting depicts two men singing from a score. They are surrounded bu a clutter of leather-bound books, pieces of cloth, and furniture. In the foreground a basse de violon is leaning against a box. This variety of objects allowed Bega to show off his skill in depicting various textures. The palette of brownish and purplish colours is typical of Beg'a style.Label TextA highly versatile artist, Bega specialised in scenes of daily life portraying the middle and lower classes in domestic interiors and taverns. His most popular subjects were drunkards, gamblers, quacks, alchemists, prostitutes and nursing mothers. This painting depicts two men singing from a score. They are surrounded by a clutter of leather-bound books, pieces of cloth and furniture. In the foreground a basse de violon is leaning against a box. The variety of objects allowed Bega to show off his skill in depicting various textures with meticulous brushwork. The palette of brownish and purplish colours is typical of Bega’s style.