Peasant Music at the time of ter Brugghen

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The January sales of ancient art at Sotheby's in New York always include exceptional works by great artists. The January 29 auction will be no exception.

The cover of the catalog, however, is entrusted to a master who is not among the best known to the public: Hendrick ter Brugghen.

His oil on canvas 101 x 83 cm, signed and dated 1624, shows a bagpipe player. The auction house said that it was once the pendant of a lute player. Opening the Wikipedia, the artist offers us a flute player. The common characteristics between them is that they show popular instruments far from the luxurious subjects of many other artists.

Each of these musicians is represented alone with his instrument, against a neutral background. The simple beret, the badly cut beard and the naked shoulder of the bagpiper describe a musician of the peasant class. The effects of shadows and light give him presence and even psychology.

Indeed ter Brugghen, who worked in Utrecht, may have known Caravaggio on a trip to Rome and was one of his first followers. The ancient paintings of Caravagesque style are rare in the market, and prices are always high. It is estimated $ 4 million.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

It was the masterpiece of this great sale. It sold $ 10 million including premium, well above its high estimate.

It had earned the honors of the cover of the catalog.