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The earliest known self-portrait by a Dutch painter is by… a woman! It dates from 1548, and is by none other than Catharina van Hemessen (1528 - after 1567). Her composition – showing the artist at work, holding brushes, a palette and a stick, with a work in progress on the easel in the background – has been copied by many famous artists. This pioneer mainly painted small portraits, usually of women. This painting – Rest on the Flight to Egypt (c. 1555) - is very big by her standards. She demonstrates here that she was not only capable of depicting a loving embrace, but also that she was an exceptionally good landscape artist.
lower left, on a rock: CATHARINA / DE HEMES / SEN PINGE / BAT
Provenance
Ferdinand Isidore Gabriel Lescarts (1816-1888), Bergen(Mons), c. 1868-1888; Jean Louis Adolphe Lescarts (1851-1925), Bergen(Mons), 1888-1925; Dr. Gottschewski – Dr. Schäffer Gallery, Berlin, 1927; private collection, Rhineland, (?) – 2013 (sale Cologne, Lempertz, 16 November 2013, no. 1207; De Jonckheere Gallery, Geneva, 2013-2014; private Collection, since 2014
