Grand painting "Baptism of Christ" was acquired in December 2012 from a private individual in the budget designated by the Ministry of Culture

Hendrik van Balen and
Jan Brueghel the Younger
The Baptism of Christ. Around the second half of 1620s
canvas. 141 x 202
Source: Press release of the Pushkin Museum. A. S.Pushkina 55

The collection of the Museum of Fine Arts. Pushkin sent a rare painting "Baptism of Christ", co-written by the celebrated Flemish painter Hendrik van Balen (1575-1632) and Jan Brueghel the Younger (1601-1678). The painting was acquired in December 2012 from a private individual in the budget designated by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation to the Pushkin Museum. Pushkin.

painting, performed at the famous Christian story, is one of the largest (141 x 202) and ambitious works in the artistic heritage of painters. A careful study of its artistic features can see the difference in the interpretation of the figures and elements of landscape and still-life, indicating that participation in its creation two masters. Such an approach to the creation of works of art was a widespread phenomenon in the creative practice of Flemish and Dutch painters of the XVII century, working in a highly competitive market. The specialists of "historical" genre was often invited as an author on landscape and still-life artists. In the painting "Baptism of Christ", as in many other works of Hendrik van balena, elements of still life in the foreground filled with famous Antwerp painter Jan Brueghel the Younger. Judging by the age difference between the two authors (Jan Brueghel the Younger became a master of the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke's only in 1625), the work could be created in the second half of the approximately 1620-ies. The success of contemporary paintings was so great that the apprentices who worked in the studio of Hendrik van balena, make a copy, which is now kept in the vaults of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

painting "Baptism Christ "Hendrik Van balena and Jan Brueghel the Younger has a high level of artistic quality and certainly worthy of exposure to decorate the Pushkin Museum. Pushkin, in the meeting that the work of Hendrik van balena still missing. This entry - one of the largest and most significant events in the acquisition of the museum collection at Volkhonka in the XXI century.

Source : press release Pushkin Museum. A. S.Pushkina