Hendrik Van Steenwijk I (1550-1603) - Royal Palace Of Prague-throne Room

Dutch School of the 16th century signed and dated 1590-interior of the Royal Palace of Prague. Panel of 47 cm by 38.5 cm. Old frame of 58 cm by 51 cm. Our painting is one of the rare representations of the throne room (Vladislav Hall) of the former Prague Royal Castle. Another painting known by the same artist who represents this same room was sold 108 000 euro in November 2006 by Christie's in Amsterdam. Very nice provenance. Note that the two characters in the foreground and the little dog were added in the 17th century. Hendrik van Steenwijk I (1550-1603) Hendrik van Steewijck I was born in Kampen around 1550 in the province of Overijssel in the Netherlands. He studied painting and was a pupil of the painter Ernest Maeler, then the architectural painter Hans Vredeman de Vries, and the father of Hendrik van Steenwijk II2. He is known to have worked in Aachen (1573-1576), Antwerp (1577-1585), and Frankfurt-am-Main from 15861. Van Steenwijck is considered today as the one of the pioneers in illustration of architectural interiors, a genre popular during the Dutch Golden Age3. In addition to being at the origin of a new pictorial genre, he performs his works with a particular attention to natural light and the depth of perspective, much more pronounced than in the works of his master Vredeman de Vries2. In 1570, the political and religious situation of the Southern Netherlands becomes very difficult. He follows his master Hans Vredeman de Vries, who is exiled to Aachen. It was there that he made in 1573 the first known painting of a "church interior". This work is the circular representation according to the laws of perspective taught by his master. Aachen includes many exiles. He married in 1573 with the daughter of Martin Van Valckenbock, Helena. Around 1580 is born his son Hendrick called "the Younger". Around June 1586, new exile in Frankfurt-on-Main where he died in 1603. Frankfurt is then a prosperous city where these artists come to swell a large Flemish community. Although he moved away from Antwerp, he imagined many paintings depicting views of church interiors that resembled the cathedral of Antwerp.