Portrait of Michiel Comans (1614-1687), calligrapher, etcher, painter and schoolmaster, with his third wife Elisabeth van der Mersche

Portrait of Michiel Comans (1614-1687), calligrapher, etcher, painter and schoolmaster, with his third wife Elisabeth van der Mersche

SK-A-4135

• signature, date and inscription: ‘Kent u Selven en wacht u voor Gierigheyt. M.l v. Musscher Pi..t 1669’
• inscription: ‘Michiel Comans en sijn Huysvrouw Elisabet vandr. Maersch.’

Michiel van Musscher (1645 - 1705). Michiel Comans and his third wife Elisabeth van der Mersche, 1669.The identity of the sitters can be read in the glass of the window. The artist has paused for a moment to point out to the audience his motto: 'Know Thyself and beware of Miserliness.' His wife looks on. The studio is rendered in considerable detail: on the easel we see a Holy Family and on a nearby table the artist's painting equipment; there are books and prints lying on the floor. Comans was not only a painter, but also a calligrapher, etcher and schoolmaster. Purchased in 1967, thanks to a gift from G. Henle (Duisburg)

R. E. Gerhardt, 'The Van Musscher Family of Artists', Oud Holland 120, nr. 1/2 (2007), p. 115

painter: Michiel van Musscher

1669

olieverf op doek

• height 71 cm x width 63 cm
• depth 8 cm

Gift of G. Henle, Duisburg

gift 1967

Public domain

…; collection Sir Humphrey de Trafford (1808-1886), Trafford Park, 1856;{Note RMA.} sale, Viscount Bearsted et al. [section Sir Humphrey de Trafford], London (Christie´s), 13 December 1929, no. 134, £ 315, to Partridge;{Copy RMA}…; collection Dr Cornelis Johannes Karel van Aalst (1866-1939), Hoevelaken, 1935;{Rotterdam 1935a, p. 26, no. 69.} from whom purchased by the dealer H. Cramer, The Hague, 1965/66;{Note RMA.} from whom, fl. 28,000, to the museum, as a gift from Dr. dr. H.C.G. Henle, Duisburg, 1967

Please note that this provenance was formulated with a special focus on provenance research for the years 1933-45 and could therefore be incomplete. There may be more (mostly earlier) provenance information known in the museum. In case this item has an uncertain or incomplete provenance for the years 1933-45, the Rijksmuseum welcomes information and assistance in the investigation and clarification of the provenance of all works during that era.

R. E. Gerhardt, 'The Van Musscher Family of Artists', Oud Holland 120, nr. 1/2 (2007), p. 115

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:

https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/20025783