Catharina van Hemessen

Banner - Catharina van Hemessen Portret van een jonge vrouw en haar hond Snijders & Rockoxhuis (ID-Photo-Agency-Lieven-Van-Assch_© ID/ Lieven Van Assche
Banner - Catharina van Hemessen Portret van een jonge vrouw en haar hond Snijders & Rockoxhuis (ID-Photo-Agency-Lieven-Van-Assch_© ID/ Lieven Van Assche
ID/ Lieven Van Assche
Catharina van Hemessen (1528 - dopo il 1567) è una pioniera delle arti europee. Figlia di una famiglia di pittori di Anversa, la sua opera è piccola seppure impressionante. I suoi dipinti sono esposti nei Musei Reali di Belle Arti di Bruxelles (KMSKB) e nella Snijders&Rockoxhuis di Anversa.

Pioniera di Anversa

Nel posto giusto, al momento giusto. Catharina van Hemessen nasce ad Anversa nel 1528. All'epoca la città è la più importante metropoli commerciale dell'Europa nord-occidentale. Durante quel secolo d'oro, Anversa vive anche un periodo di grande splendore artistico. Centinaia di artisti lavorano in città e la famiglia van Hemessen svolge un ruolo importante in questo contesto. Jan Sanders van Hemessen, padre di Catharina, è un pittore di spicco e decano della Gilda di San Luca, di cui fa parte anche il maestro fiammingo Pieter Bruegel il Vecchio.  

Fin dalla più tenera età, il talento di Catharina è evidente. All'età di vent'anni dipinge un bellissimo ritratto di sé come artista, con tanto di cavalletto, pennelli e tavolozza in mano. Un'intuizione brillante e innovativa. Catharina è la prima artista europea a raffigurarsi in questo modo. “Autoritratto dietro un cavalletto” del 1548 si trova al Kunstmuseum Basel.

Catharina van Hemessen, Vrouwenportret (1549), Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten van België, Brussel, foto Grafisch Buro Lef_© KMSKB foto Grafisch Buro Lefevre Heule
Catharina van Hemessen, Vrouwenportret (1549), Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten van België, Brussel, foto Grafisch Buro Lef_© KMSKB foto Grafisch Buro Lefevre Heule
KMSKB foto Grafisch Buro Lefevre Heule

Una donna forte in un mondo di uomini

Questo straordinario autoritratto non sarà la sua ultima opera inedita. Catharina van Hemessen è anche la prima donna artista della nostra regione di cui sono state conservate opere firmate. Un elemento degno di nota, se si considera che all'epoca la pittura era principalmente un'attività maschile. Determinata e con un’eccezionale finezza, costruisce la sua piccola ma solida opera. Firma con orgoglio i suoi dipinti ed è già apprezzata dagli intenditori in patria e all'estero.  

Catharina van Hemessen Portret van een jonge dame met haar hond Collectie Vlaamse Gemeenschap_© Museum Snijders&Rockox foto C
Catharina van Hemessen Portret van een jonge dame met haar hond Collectie Vlaamse Gemeenschap_© Museum Snijders&Rockox foto C
Museum Snijders&Rockox foto C Verhelst public domain,Museum_Snijders_Rockox_foto_C_Verhelst_public_domain

Catharina van Hemessen nelle Fiandre

Ad oggi sono rimasti una ventina dei suoi dipinti, alcuni dei quali si trovano nelle Fiandre.

Non sono a casa? Niente panico... 
Mai troppo lontano... 

I capolavori fiamminghi godono di fama mondiale. Motivo per cui alcune opere d'arte di grande pregio vengono talvolta esposte temporaneamente oltre confine in rinomati musei stranieri. In ogni caso, nelle Fiandre c'è sempre un tesoro di capolavori da scoprire: nei nostri musei, nelle nostre città e nei nostri siti storici. Qui hanno vissuto e lavorato i Maestri Fiamminghi ed è qui che hanno trovato l'ispirazione per i loro capolavori. 

Catharina van Hemessen - Bewening van Christus - Collectie Snijders&Rockoxhuis Antwerpen_© KBC Antwerpen - Public domain
Catharina van Hemessen - Bewening van Christus - Collectie Snijders&Rockoxhuis Antwerpen_© KBC Antwerpen - Public domain
Collectie Snijders&Rockoxhuis Antwerpen - (c) KBC Antwerpen - Public domai,Collectie_Snijders_Rockoxhuis_Antwerpen_-__c__KBC_Antwerpen_-_Public_domai
Museum Snijders&Rockoxhuis - portret jonge vrouw en hond - Catharina van Hemessen (vitrinekast)_© KBC-Antwerpen
Museum Snijders&Rockoxhuis - portret jonge vrouw en hond - Catharina van Hemessen (vitrinekast)_© KBC-Antwerpen
KBC Antwerpen
Catharina van Hemessen - Detail Bewening van Christus - Collectie Snijders&Rockoxhuis Antwerpen_© KBC Antwerpen - Public doma
Catharina van Hemessen - Detail Bewening van Christus - Collectie Snijders&Rockoxhuis Antwerpen_© KBC Antwerpen - Public doma
Collectie Snijders&Rockoxhuis Antwerpen - (c) KBC Antwerpen - Public domai,Collectie_Snijders_Rockoxhuis_Antwerpen_-__c__KBC_Antwerpen_-_Public_domai

Scopri anche

KMSKBelgië, Brussel, foto Grafisch Buro Lefevre, Heule

Donne in primo piano

Dalla Maestra fiamminga Catharina van Hemessen ai talenti contemporanei. Questa visita guidata al KMSKA ti farà conoscere le donne dietro l'arte.

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