"A Perfect Model: Prints after Anthony van Dyck's Portraits" opens at The Georgia Museum of Art
Born in 1599 in the Spanish Netherlands, Van Dyck made his mark as the leading court painter in England. He worked at a time when there was a high demand for people to immortalize who they were. His portraits were in some ways the carefully composed selfies of his day, seeming to capture a casual pose even as each gesture and object speaks to the sitters’ desire to project a certain image. Van Dyck’s fame as one of the leading portraitists of the period guaranteed him a full roster of clients and the admiration of fellow artists.
Nelda Damiano, the museum’s Pierre Daura Curator of European Art, organized the exhibition, selecting a range of subjects and the best impressions from the museum’s holdings of more than 50 prints made after Van Dyck’s work.
“It is always a pleasure to dig into the museum’s permanent collection and share with visitors works that are rarely exhibited. Van Dyck was a pivotal figure in the genre of portraiture, in its painted, drawn or engraved form. He had a keen sense of business and understood the reach prints could have since they could be easily published and circulated, an approach that had a great impact on generations of artists,” said Damiano.
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Pieter de Bailliu the Elder (Flemish, 1613 – after 1660), after Anthony van Dyck, “Lucy Percy, Countess of Carlyle,” 1640 – 55. Engraving, 10 × 7 1/2 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of Alfred H. Holbrook. GMOA 1966.1512.
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Paulus Pontius (Flemish, 1603 – 1658), after Anthony van Dyck, “Cesare Alessandro Scaglia,” 1635 – 50. Engraving, 9 7/8 × 7 1/4 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of Dr. and Mrs. S. William Pelletier. GMOA 1969.2538.
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Lucas Vorsterman the Elder (Flemish, 1595 – 1675), after Anthony van Dyck, “Cornelis Saftleven,” 1630 – 50. Engraving. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of Dr. and Mrs. S. William Pelletier. GMOA 1967.1779.
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Paulus Pontius (Flemish, 1603 – 1658), after Anthony van Dyck, “Maria de’ Medici,” 1631 – 50. Engraving, 9 1/2 × 7 1/4 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Gift of Alfred H. Holbrook. GMOA 1967.1715.