Lot Essay
Ovens' success in Holland as a society painter resulted in prominent commissions from town regents, wealthy merchants and the Dutch bourgeoisie, amongst whom Dr Nicolaes Tulp and the Regents of the Oudezijds Huiszittenhuis in Amsterdam. The Flemish influences, particularly by Anthony van Dyck, are evident in the present lot.
The Amsterdam born Anthony van Hengst, the son of Gerrit van Hengst and Alida de Loeker, spent his career as a lawyer in his home town and is recorded in 1674 in Utrecht as Raad-Ordinaris at the Court. On 24 July 1672 he married Eva Roeters (Amsterdam 1652-1724), daughter of Hendrick and Geertruyd van Heuvel, in Niewendam. She also sat to Jürgen Ovens. The pair of portraits is likely commissioned in honour of their marriage in 1672, although the fashionable Baroque style points towards a date in the 1660s. The pendant of Eva Roeters is in a private collection.
We are grateful to Fred Meijer of the RKD, The Hague, for endorsing the attribution after first hand inspection (verbal communication, 19 August).
The Amsterdam born Anthony van Hengst, the son of Gerrit van Hengst and Alida de Loeker, spent his career as a lawyer in his home town and is recorded in 1674 in Utrecht as Raad-Ordinaris at the Court. On 24 July 1672 he married Eva Roeters (Amsterdam 1652-1724), daughter of Hendrick and Geertruyd van Heuvel, in Niewendam. She also sat to Jürgen Ovens. The pair of portraits is likely commissioned in honour of their marriage in 1672, although the fashionable Baroque style points towards a date in the 1660s. The pendant of Eva Roeters is in a private collection.
We are grateful to Fred Meijer of the RKD, The Hague, for endorsing the attribution after first hand inspection (verbal communication, 19 August).