Attributed to Cornelis De Vos

Attributed to CORNELIS DE VOS (Hulst, ca. 1584 - Antwerp, 1651).
"Saint Martin of Tours parting his cloak", ca.1618.
Oil on oak panel.
With later structure of reinforcement (cradled).
It presents patina according to its age.
We are grateful for the invaluable help in the attribution of the work to Dr. Bert Schepers through digital images.
Measurements: 85,2 × 72,5 cm.

Magnificent Flemish Baroque composition of remarkable pictorial quality and narrative force, representing the episode of St. Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar, one of the most emblematic themes of Christian iconography in 17th century Europe. Attributed to Cornelis De Vos, a prominent member of Rubens' circle, the work is fully inscribed in the artistic context of Antwerp during the first third of the 17th century.

The scene is organized around the equestrian figure of the saint, whose elegant arrangement articulates the whole with great dynamism. The chromatic richness, the modeling of the flesh tones and the vibrant treatment of the light show a solid assimilation of the Rubenesque language. The inclusion of the celestial vision in the upper part introduces a transcendent dimension that reinforces the spiritual meaning of the episode.

In contrast to Van Dyck's more stylized models, the present work is distinguished by a greater corporeality in the figures and a more direct interpretation of the human types, traits characteristic of Cornelis de Vos's pictorial sensibility. This type of compositions, intended for private devotion, enjoyed wide diffusion in the Flemish school, being especially valued for their expressive intensity and iconographic richness.

Cornelis de Vos was an important figure of the Antwerp school, closely linked to Peter Paul Rubens, with whom he collaborated on several occasions. A member of the guild of Saint Luke since 1608, he developed an outstanding career as a portraitist of the Flemish bourgeoisie, distinguished by the psychological intensity of his models and the chromatic richness of his compositions. His work is preserved in important international collections and museums, including the Prado Museum, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (KMSKA) and the Louvre.