SNELLINCK, Jan I - b. ~1544 Mechelen, d. 1638 Antwerpen - WGA

SNELLINCK, Jan I

(b. ~1544 Mechelen, d. 1638 Antwerpen)

Flemish draughtsman, painter, tapestry designer and art dealer. He was a blood relation of the Brueghel family (through his mother, Corneila Verhulst), and his two marriages connected him with other artists of Antwerp. In 1574 he married Helena de Jode, daughter of the engraver and publisher Gerard de Jode (¹⁵⁰⁹⁄₁₇-1591). Snellinck worked for his father-in-law producing designs for prints. In 1586 Snellinck was married again to Paulina Cuypers, who was a relative of Van Dyck’s mother, Maria.

He settled in Antwerp around 1574. He is known for his large altarpieces and was also recognized as a leading battle painter in his time. He also made cartoons for tapestries and had the distinction of drawing the admiration of Van Dyck, who painted his portrait.

The Battle of Moncontour, 30 October 1569

The scene depicted is set against the historical backdrop of the wars of religion between the Protestant Huguenots and the Roman Catholic Holy League, that were to divide France into civil war for most of the second half of the 16th century.

In 1569 Moncontour was the site of a major battle between the Huguenots and the Catholic forces headed by the Duke of Anjou (1551-1589), younger brother of King Charles IX and himself the future King Henri III of France. Anjou’s forces were bolstered by support from Spanish Netherlandish troops commanded by Peter Ernst, F�rst von Mansfeld (1517-1604), sent by King Philip II. In the battle the area of Moncontour was seized from Protestant hands.

The three prominent coats of arms at top have been identified, reading from left to right, as those of King Charles IX of France (1550-1574), his recently widowed brother-in-law, King Philip II of Spain (1527-1598), and Peter Ernst, F�rst von Mansfeld (1517-1604).

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The Virgin and Angels Singing the Magnificat

Jan Snellinck settled in Antwerp around 1574 but retained citizenship of his native city Mechelen where he left behind many valuable paintings. The present panel hangs at the St James’s Church.

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Triptych

Jan Snellinck settled in Antwerp around 1574 but retained citizenship of his native city Mechelen where he left behind many valuable paintings. The triptych with the Resurrection of Christ at the centre flanked with the Annunciation and the Nativity, hangs at the St Rumbold’s Cathedral.

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Triptych (detail)

The picture shows a detail of the central panel of the triptych representing the Resurrection of Christ.

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Triptych (detail)

The picture shows a detail of the central panel of the triptych representing the Resurrection of Christ.

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