Lot 163: Hendrick Berckman (Klundert 1629-1679 Middelburg)

Hendrick Berckman (Klundert 1629-1679 Middelburg)
Portrait of Michiel de Ruyter (1607-1676), three-quarter-length, in a black costume with a lace jabot, holding a baton in his right hand, a seascape beyond; and Portrait of Anna van Gelder (1614-1685), three-quarter-length, in a black dress with a white collar and cuffs, a black headdress, standing before a curtain and holding a fan in her hand
the first signed and dated 'JHBerckmans F. 1668' (JHB linked, lower right) and inscribed with his coat-of-arms (upper right); the second signed and dated 'HBerckmans Fet. 1668' (HB linked, centre left)
oil on canvas
113 x 94.7 cm.; and 113.6 x 94.5 cm.
a pair (2)

Rotterdam, Historisch Museum, Bezeten Bezit, Keuzetentoonstelling uit de verzameling van Mevrouw W.G. Elias-Vaes te Rotterdam, 18 April-1 August 1970, nos. 1 and 2.
On loan to the Zeeuws Museum, Middelburg, 1972-85.

'Twintig kamers van mevrouw Elias (-Vaes); het Educatief Cultuur-Historisch Instituut 'Het Kralings Museum''; in Origine,: Antiek, Kunst & Interieur, 1992, p. 23, no. 2, ill. p. 24.
R. Prud'homme van Reine, Rechterhand van Nederland, Amsterdam, 2007, pp. 197 and 380, ill.

(Probably) commissioned by the sitters;
(Probably) by descent to their daughter Margaretha Somer-de Ruyter (1652-1688), Amsterdam;
(Probably) by descent to her daughter Margaretha de Wilhem-Somer (1680-1738), Amsterdam;
(Probably) by descent to her son David de Leu de Wilhem (1705-1768), Amsterdam;
(Probably) by descent to his daughter Magtelina Henrietta Elias-de Wilhem (1730-1797), Amsterdam;
(Probably) by descent to her son Pieter Elias (1756-1813), Amsterdam;
(Probably) by descent to his son Gerbrand Elias (1780-1814), Schiedam;
(Probably) by descent to his son Pieter Elias (1907-1857), Amsterdam;
(Probably) by descent to his son Gerbrand Pieter Elias (1834-1913), Amsterdam;
by descent to his son Pieter Elias (1872-1955), Nijmegen;
by descent to his son Adrien Elias (1903-1963), Rotterdam;
by descent to his wife Wilhelmina Gerardina Elias-Vaes (1908-2002), Rotterdam.

Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €20,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €20,001 and €800.000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €800.000. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.
Hendrick Berckman was a pupil of Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert (1613-1654) and Jacob Jordaens (1593-1678) in Antwerp and trained under Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668) in Haarlem. In 1652 he was appointed painter to Prince Hendrick of Nassau in Hulst. Two years later he moved to Leiden where he became a member of the Guild of St. Luke. Although he has painted other subjects, Berckman is best known for his portraits of eminent men. He usually showed the sitter in three-quarter-length with the right hand resting on his waist and the left hand on a baton or weapon, as can be seen in the present lot. His sitters are treated with an austere realism and some of his later portraits, in many cases being official commissions, have a complex composition, displaying drapery and a background window showing a view over distant sea and ships. Among his prominent naval sitters were Vice-Admirals Michiel Adriaensz. de Ruyter (one of the versions of his portrait is in the Stedelijk Museum, Vlissingen) and Adriaen Banckert (1673, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam).

Berckman portrayed Michiel de Ruyter on several occasions between 1655 and 1675. His portraits can be found in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam and in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. He painted Michiel together with his wife Anna van Gelder twice, in 1660 (Stedelijk Museum Vlissingen) and in 1668 (the present pair).