Cornelis Massijs on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Cornelis MassijsAlternative spellings of family name: Massys, Matsijs, Matsys, Messijs, Messys, Metsijs, Metsys (1508, Antwerp – c. 1556, unknown), was a
at the
at the Kunsthistorisches Museum There is speculation that Cornelis travelled to England and later to Germany and Italy, but there is no conclusive proof for this."Cornelis Metsys"
Jane Campbell Hutchison and Jan Van der Stock. Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 27 Jun. 2014Corneille Matsys
at the
Cornelis Massijs was initially known for his graphic work. In the early 20th century he was rediscovered as a landscape painter. Seven signed paintings by him are known and these have served as the basis for the attribution of other, unsigned paintings to Cornelis Massijs.Thomas Kren, Scot McKendrick, 'Illuminating the Renaissance: The Triumph of Flemish Manuscript Painting in Europe', Getty Publications, 1 Jul, 2003, p. 490-491
Throughout his career he used three different monograms to sign his work. The monogram COR. MET, which he used from 1537 to 1539, is found on one panel, the ''Return of the Prodigal Son'', dated 1538. This painting shows Cornelis to be an accomplished painter of fantastic landscapes in the style of Joachim Patinir, but a little stiff in the execution and with clumsy figures. During this early period he learned the art of engraving. He copied some of the Italian masters such as 
Cornelis used his second monogram CME from 1539 to 1543. During this period he moved away from the fantastic landscapes to a more naturalistic approach. This is demonstrated in his painting the ''Arrival of the Holy Family in Bethlehem'' of 1543. During this time he also produced some landscape drawings that pioneer a realistic treatment of landscape detail that was new to northern art. Their rejection of narrative in favour of landscape elements introduces a move towards the depiction of pure landscapes. His later output was all in this more naturalistic vein and he used soft colours which created a sense of intimacy. The paintings from his later career are more panoramic and skilfully integrate landscape and figures.
Upon his exile Cornelis Massys adopted his third monogram CMA. A number of signed paintings from this period are known, only two of which are dated. He also produced engravings of biblical stories and genre scenes with a moralising intent. His ''Four Blind Peasants'' was a source of inspiration for the famous painting of ''
Cornelis Massijs engravings
at the British Museum
Cornelis Massijs works
at the Rijksmuseum {{DEFAULTSORT:Massijs, Cornelis 1508 births Flemish Renaissance painters Artists from Antwerp Year of death missing
Cornelis MassijsAlternative spellings of family name: Massys, Matsijs, Matsys, Messijs, Messys, Metsijs, Metsys (1508, Antwerp – c. 1556, unknown), was a Flemish
Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...
Renaissance painter, draughtsman and engraver, mainly known for his landscapes and, to a lesser extent, genre scene
Genre art is the pictorial representation in any of various media of scenes or events from everyday life, such as markets, domestic settings, interiors, parties, inn scenes, work, and street scenes. Such representations (also called genre works, ...
s and portraits. He is regarded as an important figure in the transition from the fantastic landscapes of Joachim Patinir
Joachim Patinir, also called Patenier (c. 1480 – 5 October 1524), was a Flemish Renaissance painter of history and landscape subjects. He was Flemish, from the area of modern Wallonia, but worked in Antwerp, then the centre of the art market ...
to the 'pure landscapes' of later Netherlandish landscape painting.
Life
He was the son of leading Antwerp painter Quinten Matsys and the younger brother ofJan
Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to:
Acronyms
* Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN
* Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code
* Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group
* Japanese Article Num ...
, who also became a prominent painter. Cornelis Massijsat the
Netherlands Institute for Art History
The Netherlands Institute for Art History or RKD (Dutch: RKD-Nederlands Instituut voor Kunstgeschiedenis), previously Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie (RKD), is located in The Hague and is home to the largest art history center i ...
He trained under his father. He was admitted together with his brother Jan, as a master in the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke in 1531, a year after his father's death.
In 1544 the brothers were forced to leave Antwerp because of their religious beliefs. Where Cornelis went and whether he ever returned to Antwerp is unknown.Cornelis Massysat the Kunsthistorisches Museum There is speculation that Cornelis travelled to England and later to Germany and Italy, but there is no conclusive proof for this."Cornelis Metsys"
Jane Campbell Hutchison and Jan Van der Stock. Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 27 Jun. 2014Corneille Matsys
at the
Biographie Nationale de Belgique
The ''Biographie nationale de Belgique'' (French; "National Biography of Belgium") is a biographical dictionary of Belgium. It was published by the Royal Academy of Belgium in 44 volumes between 1866 and 1986. A continuation series, entitled the ' ...
, Volume 14, p. 629-632
Work
Cornelis Massijs was initially known for his graphic work. In the early 20th century he was rediscovered as a landscape painter. Seven signed paintings by him are known and these have served as the basis for the attribution of other, unsigned paintings to Cornelis Massijs.Thomas Kren, Scot McKendrick, 'Illuminating the Renaissance: The Triumph of Flemish Manuscript Painting in Europe', Getty Publications, 1 Jul, 2003, p. 490-491
Throughout his career he used three different monograms to sign his work. The monogram COR. MET, which he used from 1537 to 1539, is found on one panel, the ''Return of the Prodigal Son'', dated 1538. This painting shows Cornelis to be an accomplished painter of fantastic landscapes in the style of Joachim Patinir, but a little stiff in the execution and with clumsy figures. During this early period he learned the art of engraving. He copied some of the Italian masters such as Marcantonio Raimondi
Marcantonio Raimondi, often called simply Marcantonio (c. 1470/82 – c. 1534), was an Italian engraver, known for being the first important printmaker whose body of work consists largely of prints copying paintings. He is therefore a key figu ...
and Parmigianino
Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola (11 January 150324 August 1540), also known as Francesco Mazzola or, more commonly, as Parmigianino (, , ; "the little one from Parma"), was an Italian Mannerist painter and printmaker active in Florence, Rome, B ...
and also showed an interest in the German Little Masters
The Little Masters ("Kleinmeister" in German), were a group of German printmakers who worked in the first half of the 16th century, primarily in engraving. They specialized in very small finely detailed prints, some no larger than a postage stamp. ...
in his series the Dancing Cripples of 1538.
Cornelis used his second monogram CME from 1539 to 1543. During this period he moved away from the fantastic landscapes to a more naturalistic approach. This is demonstrated in his painting the ''Arrival of the Holy Family in Bethlehem'' of 1543. During this time he also produced some landscape drawings that pioneer a realistic treatment of landscape detail that was new to northern art. Their rejection of narrative in favour of landscape elements introduces a move towards the depiction of pure landscapes. His later output was all in this more naturalistic vein and he used soft colours which created a sense of intimacy. The paintings from his later career are more panoramic and skilfully integrate landscape and figures.
Upon his exile Cornelis Massys adopted his third monogram CMA. A number of signed paintings from this period are known, only two of which are dated. He also produced engravings of biblical stories and genre scenes with a moralising intent. His ''Four Blind Peasants'' was a source of inspiration for the famous painting of ''The Blind Leading the Blind
"The blind leading the blind" is an idiom and a metaphor in the form of a parallel phrase, it is used to describe a situation where a person who knows nothing is getting advice and help from another person who knows almost nothing.
History
Th ...
'' by Pieter Bruegel the Elder of 1568.
About 150 engravings by Cornelis Massys are known. His graphic work introduced a wide range of religious and moralizing themes into Northern art. His engravings show an attention to the line rather than the overall effect.
Cornelis Massijs was also known for his drawings of grotesques and ornamental designs. He made a few portraits, among them his engravings of Peter Ernst I von Mansfeld-Vorderort
Peter Ernst I von Mansfeld-Vorderort (20 July 1517 – 25 May 1604) was a Spanish Imperial army commander of German origin and Governor of the Spanish Netherlands from 1592 to 1594.
Born in Heldrungen, Saxony, he was the 11th child (of 16) of ...
and his wife and of Henry VIII engraved in 1544 and printed in 1548, which are the main reasons why it is assumed Cornelis spent time in Germany and England.
References
External links
*Cornelis Massijs engravings
at the British Museum
Cornelis Massijs works
at the Rijksmuseum {{DEFAULTSORT:Massijs, Cornelis 1508 births Flemish Renaissance painters Artists from Antwerp Year of death missing