Sybrand van Beest

Essay:

Born in The Hague van Beest lived in the house of Pieter van Veen until the latter's death in 1629. Though only one single work is known by van Veen ('The Feeding of the Freed Citizens of Leiden') it appears that he influenced the young van Beest with his work with its earthy tones and themes of food and markets in contemporary northern cities.

Markets were van Beest's staple subject with well-to-do wives of burgomasters haggling with livestock and vegetable sellers. Pigs trussed up in market squares are a particularly common motif with moody grey skies and earthy brown tones for the city streets and walls. His figures are well painted somewhat in the manner of Ostade. The settings can occasionally be identified as specific streets or squares in The Hague. Occasionally he painted interior genre scenes.

Van Beest spent most of his life in The Hague where he joined the Guild and later became a founding member of Pictura in 1656 and became its first secretary. In around 1670 he moved to Amsterdam.

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This scene is likely a view of De Varkensmarkt (The Pig Market) in The Hague, an area which van Beest painted many times. Another view by the artist in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm (NM 309), gives a wider more topographical view of the market. It is likely that van Beest lived near the market as he painted the scene many times over several decades.

A note on the provenance:
Charles Gasc (1818 - 1869) was an important French art collector in the 19th century. He was famous for his extensive collection of old master paintings and drawings.

Provenance:

Collection of Charles Gasc (1818 - 1869), Paris (Lugt 543);
Galerie J.H. Bauer, Hannover, Germany (according to a label verso);
Private collection, Germany;
Private collection, Switzerland.