Visit at tefaf Part1: Old Master Paintings from the 16th & 17th century.

I suppose I have become a regular visitor of tefaf. Visiting the art fair every year with my father has become a tradition since 1993.

 This year's event again shows top quality art in its entire splendor. Today I concentrated on 16th and 17th century paintings (mainly Flemish, Dutch and Italian).

Paintings that stroke me most were:

Still life’s from P. Claez, R. Savery, A. Boschaert, B. van der Ast.

Sceneries from P. Bruegel the Elder, A. Grimmer, J. van Ruysdael, H. Avercamp, Guardi and Canaletto.

Marines from S. de Vlieger, P. Nooms (Zeeman) W. van de Velde the Elder and J. van de Capelle.

Next to these Old Masters there are numerous beautiful paintings from less known artists from this era, of course offered at more affordable prices.
 What strikes me again is the devotion, love for the subject and discipline these artists show in their paintings, which have survived for centuries because of the love and admiration for them by the subsequent owners. This is what makes Europe so rich, the respect for culture and art over centuries and centuries.
 And even if these paintings are bought as a pure investment, they still contribute to preserving art for the generations to come...

 In the picture below I briefly visited the 20th century, standing next to a painting from Paul Gauguin (1848-1903), titled "Deux Femmes" that Gauguin painted in 1902, a year before Gauguin’s death, while he was living on Hiva Oa in the remote Marquesas Islands 740 miles from Tahiti. Before the opening of tefaf, the leading international art dealer Dickinson announced an asking price in the region of €18 million (US$26 million).

Guy at tefaf 2010

Tulip in vase with lizard and butterfly, inspired by Balthasar van der Ast

I painted this picture in 2001. It is all about the beauty, fragility and evanescence of the tulip flower, lizard and butterfly, which Balthasar van der Ast depicted so well. I decided to draw the attention of the eye towards the admiration of the lizard for the butterfly, next to the generosity of the tulip.

Tulip in vase with lizard and butterfly

(1593/94-1657) Balthasar van der Ast was born in Middelburg. There he became a pupil of his brother in law Ambrosius Bosschaert. Van der Ast formed together with his brother, his brother in law and three cousins  the "Bosschaert Dynasty", a group of painters who were known for their still life's. Van der Ast mainly painted still lifes of flowers and fruit. He worked with Roelant Savery and taught Jan Davidsz. de Heem and the sons of Ambrosius Bosschaert.

Detail