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Hendrick van Steenwyck the Younger, 'The Interior of a Gothic Church looking East', after 1609

Key facts
Full title The Interior of a Gothic Church looking East
Artist Hendrick van Steenwyck the Younger
Artist dates active by 1604; died 1649
Date made after 1609
Medium and support oil on copper
Dimensions 10.5 × 15.3 cm
Acquisition credit Sir Claude Phillips Bequest, 1924
Inventory number NG4040
Location Not on display
Collection Main Collection
The Interior of a Gothic Church looking East
Hendrick van Steenwyck the Younger

This view of the interior of a Gothic church is painted from a relatively low viewpoint, making it feel like we are stood in the main aisle – a boy nearby has even noticed us. The artist has created the illusion that we are looking into a vast space: the receding parallel lines of the floor and architecture draw the eye down the nave towards the choir. This is most likely an imaginary church, and similar views with minor variations appear in several paintings by the same artist (for example in the National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen).

Other painters frequently added the figures in van Steenwyck’s compositions, but here the visitors in the right foreground are probably by the artist himself. The elegantly dressed man and the two women holding hands might be taking part in a wedding ceremony. The gravestone in the foreground bears the date 1609, possibly the date the picture was painted.

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More paintings by Hendrick van Steenwyck the Younger

The Courtyard of a Renaissance Palace
The Courtyard of a Renaissance Palace
Hendrick van Steenwyck the Younger
In the courtyard of this vast and palatial complex of buildings, a woman stands with her young servants. The bright red of her dress and the dark blue of her attendants’ outfits are echoed in the feathers of the parrot that is perched on the pedestal to the right. Two men seemingly demonstrate th...
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Croesus and Solon
Croesus and Solon
Hendrick van Steenwyck the Younger and follower of Jan Brueghel the Elder
This painting depicts a legendary moment recounted by the ancient Greek historians Herodotus and Plutarch: Solon, an Athenian philosopher and lawmaker, disputes with Croesus, King of Lydia, on the subject of happiness.We see Solon approach Croesus as he passes through the ruler’s palace at Sardis...
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The Interior of a Gothic Church looking East
The Interior of a Gothic Church looking East
Hendrick van Steenwyck the Younger and Jan Brueghel the Elder
Although this picture shows an imagined interior rather than a real church, it is highly detailed. The lead of the windowpanes is visible, and the subjects of some of the paintings that hang on the pillars can be identified (on the closest pillar on the left, Christ is depicted with the woman of...
Not on display
Interior of a Church at Night
Interior of a Church at Night
Imitator of Hendrick van Steenwyck the Younger
It is night-time, and we are looking into the dimly lit apse of a Catholic church. An elaborate metal baptismal font stands on red marble steps in the foreground; the column next to it is a font crane, which supports the font cover. There are still several visitors in the church and the side chap...
Not on display