1035 - Willem van Herp d. Ä.

Willem van Herp d. Ä. Willem van Herp the Elder The Virgin and Child Appearing to St. Simon Stock Oil on copper. 76.5 x 99.5 cm. Provenance Private collection, Belgium. This impressive painting by Willem van Herp is executed on an unusually large copper plate. Van Herp, known for his religious images on copper – many of them destined for export – here demonstrates not only his technical mastery but also his creative ingenuity. The scene unfolds as a heavenly vision: the Virgin and Child appear enthroned on clouds, surrounded by angels. Below, a kneeling Carmelite monk, the English saint Simon Stock, receives his scapular, supported by a celestial figure, while an open book lies at his feet — a symbol of divine wisdom and devotion. The landscape, with its river and dramatic sky, has a Rubenesque quality, yet the stylistic refinement and emotional sensitivity point more clearly to the influence of Anthony van Dyck. Van Herp reveals himself here as an accomplished painter, a skilled landscapist and a remarkable colourist. His use of copper enhances the luminosity and depth of the composition, to the benefit of the work as a whole.