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Bacchanal, ca. 1904.
Oil on canvas.
This painting was part of the glorious decoration of the architect's home of
Jos Bascourt (1863-1927), completed in 1904 at Sint-Vincentiusstraat 16 in
Antwerp. In 1986 the building was demolished after several years of neglect.
This monumental painting was saved from the demolition hammer. As mentioned
on the web page of the Immovable Heritage Inventory, this classical painting
of ladies making music decorated the hall on the ground floor.¹
It goes back to a smaller painting by Sir Lauwrence Alma-Tadema (1839-1912)
that was sold at Christie's in London on 24.11.1989, lot 40 and is dated
1871. Although Lawrence-Tadema lived in Antwerp from 1852 to 1858, he most
likely had nothing to do with the creation of this larger version. It seems
plausible that Verbuecken, and/or his collaborators, used a print as an
example, given that some colors differ from the original painting.
A signed and 1920 dated gouache of the same composition - sold on 17.12.2021
at Arenberg Auctions (lot 474) - indicates that Verbuecken knew
Alma-Tadema's prototype well and used it for his own work.
Lit.: 1. https://inventaris.onroerenderfgoed.be/erfgoedobjecten/7572
(accessed on 30/08/2023)
Verbuecken is particularly known for his Oriental mosaics and painted
decorations in Art-Nouveau projects in Antwerp. He was responsible for the
decorations on the entrance gate of the Antwerp Zoo, designed by architect
E. Thielens.
Dimensions:
H173.5 x 306 cm
H68.31 x 120.47inch.
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