The Collections | Highlights | 17th-century Art
Highlights: 17th-century Art
The Barber has a wealth of material from the 17th century from the Italian states, from France, as well as the Protestant Netherlands in the north and Catholic Flanders. The collection is particularly strong in paintings which reflect a major shift towards a new intensity and drama which transformed religious art in particular. The intense illusionistic effects, spectacular lighting and compelling narratives of Caravaggio influenced many artists including Matthias Stom (right). Other artists such as Murillo in his Marriage Feast at Cana and Van Dyck explored different ways in which the viewer might be caught up in religious events in order to engage their emotions and reinforce their faith. In contrast, the century also saw a more restrained, classical approach to painting, both in landscapes and figure subjects. This is illustrated here in two key works by Poussin and Claude. The period also saw a rapid expansion in the range of subjects painted, particularly in Holland where landscape artists specialised in town views, seascapes and Italianate scenes such as Cuyp’s Huntsmen Halted. Others, such as the Italian Baschenis, concentrated on still life.
Many of these painters are also represented in the collection by drawings and prints. Van Dyck produced an outstanding early watercolour of An English Landscape, for example, and Castiglione is the author of a fine group of etchings as well as his Rebecca Led by the Servant of Abraham. In particular, there is an outstanding group of drawings by Rembrandt and his followers, including the famous Sheet of Studies of heads and the Christ and the Woman of Samaria. The 17th-century sculpture includes a splendid Baroque Bust of Cardinal Richelieu by Jean Varin and amongst the decorative arts The Butleigh Salt, made in London in 1606-7, is perhaps the outstanding piece. Amongst the coins there is the spectacular Gold Laurel of James I minted at the Tower of London 1619-25.