Herman Frederik Carel Ten Kate

HENRMAN FREDERIK FREDERIK CAREL TEN KATE (Amsterdam, 1822- Carthage, Tunis, 1891).
"The Reader."
Oil on panel.
Signed on the lower left.
Provenance: Private collection, Netherlands.
Measurements: 17 x 23,5 cm.

Herman Frederik Carel ten Kate was a painter, draughtsman and engraver known for his historical and genre scenes. Pupil of Cornelis Kruseman and later of the Royal Academy of Art of The Hague, Ten Kate specialized in representations of great detail of interiors, military life and historical events. His refined use of color and psychological nuances earned him recognition in the Netherlands and abroad. He traveled and worked in Belgium, Germany, Italy and France, where he was admired by contemporaries such as Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier. His works were widely exhibited and he enjoyed the patronage of King William III of the Netherlands.

The painting "The Reader" is a fine example of Ten Kate's mastery of intimate interior scenes. Executed in oil on panel, the work captures a quiet moment of contemplation, in which the light gently accentuates the figure and the surrounding space. Despite its modest size, the composition reveals Ten Kate's characteristic attention to historical detail and atmosphere. The careful balance between realism and mood invites the viewer to reflect on the timeless act of reading, a theme that resonates throughout the centuries.