The Ommegang in Antwerp

Details

Circle of Erasmus de Bie I (Antwerp 1629-1675)
The Ommegang in Antwerp
indistinctly signed with monogram (lower left), inscribed with the title 'DIT IS. DEN.OMMEGANCK OFT.CERMIS.VAN.HNTWERPEN' and inscribed 'PETER/VAN/AELST/PICTUR/INVEN..E/PS./...TVS/1..4 IAE (on the base of the Colussus Gigantaeus Antverpianus)
oil on panel
73.9 x 106.2 cm.
stamped on the reverse with the panel maker's mark of a six-armed star

Special notice

Christie's charges a Buyer's premium calculated at 23.205% of the hammer price for each lot with a value up to €110,000. If the hammer price of a lot exceeds €110,000 then the premium for the lot is calculated at 23.205% of the first €110,000 plus 11.9% of any amount in excess of €110,000. Buyer's Premium is calculated on this basis for each lot individually.

Lot Essay

The Ommegang is a religious festival dating from the Middle Ages that is still celebrated in Antwerp today. Occuring on the 15th August it was originally organised as two events: the first celebrated the Ascension of the Virgin; the second was a large, opulent secular participation of the guilds, crafts and chambers of rhetoric, each of which contributed a float to a procession through the streets of Antwerp. There was considerable rivalry between the guilds in their efforts to provide the most splendid display.

The panel maker's mark '*' was used by an Antwerp workshop between 1619-1650; so far the name of this workshop is unknown. We are grateful to Dr. J. Wadum of The Mauritshuis, The Hague, for the identification.

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