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Melchior de la Mars (c. 1585 – 1650) was a Flemish Baroque painter active in Ghent. Only recently rediscovered, the artist is considered an early representative of the so-called Ghent
at the Netherlands Institute for Art History
Only two known signed works by the artist are known. It is on the basis of these works that a number of works formerly attributed to Northern and Italian Caravaggisti have been assigned to de la Mars.
The style of de la Mars' works, which combines chiaroscuro together with the Mannerist profiles of the figures, qualify the artist as an early representative of the Ghent
Melchior de la Mars (c. 1585 – 1650) was a Flemish Baroque painter active in Ghent. Only recently rediscovered, the artist is considered an early representative of the so-called Ghent Caravaggisti
The Caravaggisti (or the "Caravagesques") were stylistic followers of the late 16th-century Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio. His influence on the new Baroque style that eventually emerged from Mannerism was profound. Caravaggio never establish ...
.Melchior de la Marsat the Netherlands Institute for Art History
Life
Little is known about the life and training of the artist. His activity in Ghent is recorded in 1621, when he signed and dated the ''Circumcision of the infant Christ'' made for the altar of the church of Augustine Church (now Saint Stephanus Church) in Ghent. A year later he signed the ''Maria Magdalen in ecstasy'' (
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (french: Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique, nl, Koninklijke Musea voor Schone Kunsten van België) are a group of art museums in Brussels, Belgium. They include six museums: the Oldmasters Muse ...
).
The artist was registered in the Guild of Saint Luke until 1622 after which there is no further record of the artist in the guild records. It is believed that the artist was also an art dealer and was thus able to export his own works, which explains their presence in French collections.
Work
Only two known signed works by the artist are known. It is on the basis of these works that a number of works formerly attributed to Northern and Italian Caravaggisti have been assigned to de la Mars.
The style of de la Mars' works, which combines chiaroscuro together with the Mannerist profiles of the figures, qualify the artist as an early representative of the Ghent Caravaggisti
The Caravaggisti (or the "Caravagesques") were stylistic followers of the late 16th-century Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio. His influence on the new Baroque style that eventually emerged from Mannerism was profound. Caravaggio never establish ...
, who preceded the return of Jan Janssens
Jan JanssensJan Janssens
at the
at the
Caravaggisti
The Caravaggisti (or the "Caravagesques") were stylistic followers of the late 16th-century Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio. His influence on the new Baroque style that eventually emerged from Mannerism was profound. Caravaggio never establish ...
, which included, amongst others, Gerard Seghers
Gerard SeghersGerard Seghers
at the
at the
Theodoor van Loon.Hans Vlieghe, 'Flemish art and architecture 1585-1700', New Haven - Londen 1998, p. 80
Notes
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:La Mars, Melchior De Flemish Baroque painters Flemish history painters Artists from Ghent 1577 births 1627 deaths