Lot Essay
As pointed out by K. Hazelzet (Heethoofden, misbaksels en halve garen, 1988), at least eight other versions are recorded (Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, on loan to the Muiderslot; with Galerie Marcus, Paris, 1959; Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig; private collection, Vienna; the Walker Art Centre, Minneapolis; Galleria Sabauda, Turin; private collection, Belgium; and with Galerie Aubry, Paris, 1942; see Hazelzet, op. cit., figs. 1, 3, 45, 46, 47, 54, 5 and 43 respectively; a ninth was sold at Christie's, Amsterdam, 7 May 1996, lot 128. The best are apparently the pictures in the Muiderslot and in Leipzig. It has been suggested by C.H. Sterling (Cornelis van Dalem en Jan van Wechelen, in Studies in the History of Art dedicated to William E. Suida on his eightieth birthday, 1959, pp. 277-88) that all these versions derive from a lost original by Jan van Wechelen and Cornelis van Dalem, which was probably in the collection of the Antwerp collector Peter Stevens. The inventory of his collection made after his death in 1668 listed a picture 'Cuisine des Têtes' by Jan van Wechelen.
Although the story of the 'Cuisine des Têtes' has now lost its relevance, it was a common subject for 16th and 17th Century viewers. In the 'Cuisine des Têtes' those who were dissatisfied could have their heads baked in different shapes. What the final result would be could not be guaranteed. Therefore the Dutch language contained expressions for different types of people as 'misbaksels', 'heethoofden' and 'halve gare', which in their original meaning relate to bakers' products.
Like Pieter Brueghel I's 'Proverbs', the 'Cuisine des Têtes' illustrates the humanist interest in native tradition, stimulated by Erasmus and exemplified in his Praise of Folly. The collector Peter Stevens must have followed this interest as he owned both Pieter Brueghel's 'Proverbs' and van Wechelen's 'Cuisine des Têtes'.
A. Wijsman (De Legende van de Bakker van Eclo, Oud Holland, LIV, 1937, pp. 1734) connected the scene with the legend, dating back to circa, 1540 of the Baker at Eekloo, a Flemish town known as a centre of pottery.
Although the story of the 'Cuisine des Têtes' has now lost its relevance, it was a common subject for 16th and 17th Century viewers. In the 'Cuisine des Têtes' those who were dissatisfied could have their heads baked in different shapes. What the final result would be could not be guaranteed. Therefore the Dutch language contained expressions for different types of people as 'misbaksels', 'heethoofden' and 'halve gare', which in their original meaning relate to bakers' products.
Like Pieter Brueghel I's 'Proverbs', the 'Cuisine des Têtes' illustrates the humanist interest in native tradition, stimulated by Erasmus and exemplified in his Praise of Folly. The collector Peter Stevens must have followed this interest as he owned both Pieter Brueghel's 'Proverbs' and van Wechelen's 'Cuisine des Têtes'.
A. Wijsman (De Legende van de Bakker van Eclo, Oud Holland, LIV, 1937, pp. 1734) connected the scene with the legend, dating back to circa, 1540 of the Baker at Eekloo, a Flemish town known as a centre of pottery.