Active in Antwerp the second quarter of the 17th Century | Ca. 1625 – 1650
Figures near a House, with a mountainous Landscape beyond
Oil on copper
H. 11 cm. W. 17,8 cm.
PROVENANCE
Private collection | France
CATALOGUE NOTE
This particularly fine landscape on copper is attributed to the Flemish master Hendrick Bergainie. Little is known about Hendrick Bergainie, who is also known as Hans Berg, other than that he worked in the Southern Netherlands in the first half of the 17th century, more precisely in the city of Antwerp. He became an apprentice of Gaspard de Momper (active in Antwerp between 1624 – 1627) on 1 December 1624. Bergainie remained active until ca. 1650. His rare paintings show the influence of Flemish masters such as Frederick van Valckenborch (Antwerp 1566 – Nuremberg 1623) and Gillis van Coninxloo (Antwerpen 1544 – Amsterdam 1606). His lively figures however have much in common with those of Dutch artists working in the 1620’s, such as Esaias van de Velde Amsterdam 1587 – The Hague 1630) and Jan Josefsz. van Goyen (Leiden 1596 – The Hague 1656), suggesting that Bergainie may have worked in the Netherlands too. The present landscape also shows the evident influence of Jan Brueghel the Elder (Brussels 1568 – Antwerp 1625). Bergainie appears to have specialized in landscape paintings in oil, both on copper and panel. Some of his works are signed ‘H. Bergainie’ others ‘H. Berg’.