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48 - Marten Pepyn (attributed to) - Cain and Abel Oil on canvas 1…
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Estimate €5,000 - €10,000
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Description
Marten Pepyn (attributed to) - Cain and Abel Oil on canvas 145 x 191 cm An important composition with a biblical subject depicting the dramatic episode of the murder of Abel by Cain, narrated in the book of Genesis. The scene focuses on the violent clash between the two brothers, represented with almost sculptural monumentality within a nocturnal landscape illuminated by intense lighting effects. Cain, caught in the act of striking the fatal blow, dominates the composition with a powerful anatomical torsion, while Abel lies prone on the ground in a pose of strong theatrical pathos.The work shows clear traits that can be traced back to the Flemish painting culture of the early 17th century and in particular to the language of Marten Pepijn, an artist active in Antwerp and known above all for his large historical and religious compositions. In fact, the vigorous construction of the figures, the plastic modelling of the bodies and the strong chiaroscuro contrasts recall the Flemish tradition of the Rubensian ascendency, still linked to late Mannerist models but already oriented towards a more theatrical Baroque style.The canvas shows significant comparisons with a version of the same subject in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, attributed to Marten Pepijn, from which it takes the general setting of the fight between the two brothers, although introducing variations in the construction of the landscape. The comparison highlights a common compositional matrix, characterised by the anatomical monumentality of the protagonists and the accentuated dramatic tension of the scene. Remarkable is the anatomical rendering of the nudes, set according to models of Michelangelo and Nordic ancestry, a typical element of Flemish history painting in the first half of the 17th century. Within 19th-century frame.
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About the sale Old Masters and 19th Century Paintings and Drawings
Auction location
Auction time 06/12/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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