Petrus van Schendel Belgian, 1806-1870

Petrus van Schendel, also known as "the Master of Candlelight", was educated at the Academy of Art in Antwerp. Not only did he develop his painterly skills here, he was also taught the science of mechanics, a hobby he shared with Leonardo da Vinci. At this he was at least as successful as with his painterly profession: he patented, among others, an important improvement in the propelling of locomotives.

After his academy period he stayed in Amsterdam for two years, in Rotterdam for six years and then to The Hague where he remained until his final move to Brussels in 1845. Biblical scenes, portraits, genre pieces and above all candlelight were his favourite subjects. He enjoyed considerable succes and even sold a painting depicting Saint Hieronymus to King Willem II in the early 1840's.

But it were the candlelight pictures at which he truly excelled and earned him his greatest fame. It enabled him to paint intimate scenes which seem to slowly reveal themselves from dusky backgrounds. They are not for the quick viewer; the many details often take time to unfold.   

The present lot is a very fine example of  Van Schendels beautiful, refined style. The flickering light of the candle is at the heart of the composition and renders a warm glow to the young vegetable seller and her wares. Its light  is also reflected in the shiny copper bucket which hangs from the arm of her client. A young man looks on interestedly; a dog is half hidden in the shadows on the foreground. This clair-obscur effect is repeated in the moon behind the clouds that makes the contours of the gabled houses stand out sharply. The whole scene seems to breathe a mysterious atmosphere which is reminiscent of his 17th century predecessor Godfried Schalcken. Van Schendels superb craftmanship emanates from this wonderfully and well balanced composition.