Dirck Van Delen

Essay:

Dirck van Delen discovered his abilities as a remarkable painter of architectural compositions at a young age working from the prints of Hans Vredeman de Vries (1527 – 1609). He concentrated on painting interiors of palaces, great halls, fictitious church interiors and extensive garden panoramas with consummate skill. His paintings show the same attention to architectural detail as those of the celebrated master of this subject, Hendrick van Steenwijck (c.1580 – 1649).

In 1639 van Delen was elected a member of the Guild in Middelburg and records show that he paid his annual subscription there until 1666. In his early years van Delen travelled to Italy and it is probable that he was there in 1623, but by 1625 he was married and back in The Netherlands, living in Middleburg. However, he was to settle in nearby Arnemuiden, where he became master of the toll house. From 1628 he was almost continually a member of the town council, usually as a burgomaster. From September 1668 to September 1669 he is recorded as living in Antwerp. He was widowed three times and had at least one son, though no child survived him. At his death in 1671 his estate was quite considerable, clearly augmented by his success as a painter.

This work was probably painted by Delen in the late 1650's.

Provenance:

Private Collection, USA