Adam de Coster

Circle of ADAM DE COSTER (Mechelen, ca. 1586-Antwerp, 1643), ca.1640-50.
"By Candlelight."
Oil on canvas.
Relined.
Measurements: 75.5 x 63 cm; 91 x 78 cm (frame).

This work is fully inscribed in the tradition of Flemish tenebrism of the mid-seventeenth century. The scene represents a nocturnal composition illuminated only by the flame of a candle, characteristic resource of De Coster and of the so called painters of the night, where the artificial light becomes the true narrative axis of the image.

The intense punctual illumination models the faces and hands, creating a strong contrast with the dark and enveloping background. This play of chiaroscuro, a direct heir of Caravaggio, underlines the emotional realism and restrained theatricality of the composition.

The naturalistic treatment of the figures, the proximity to the viewer and the masterful use of chiaroscuro place the painting within the stylistic environment of Adam de Coster, one of the main introducers of Caravaggism in Flanders. The work conveys a quiet, reflective atmosphere, where the light not only reveals the forms, but builds the very meaning of the scene, making it a remarkable example of 17th century Flemish nocturnal painting.

Active as a master in the guild of St. Luke from 1607, his work - sparse and generally unsigned - includes genre scenes and religious themes of great emotional intensity. Today his works are preserved in important collections, including the Prado Museum and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, confirming his relevance within the Flemish Baroque painting of the seventeenth century.