Cornelis van der Geest (1555 – 10 March 1638) was a

spice In the culinary arts, a spice is any seed, fruit, root, Bark (botany), bark, or other plant substance in a form primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of pl ...

merchant from Antwerp, who used his wealth to support the Antwerp artists and to establish his art collection. He was also the dean of the

haberdasher __NOTOC__ In British English, a haberdasher is a business or person who sells small articles for sewing, dressmaking and knitting, such as buttons, ribbons, and zippers; in the United States, the term refers instead to a men's clothing st ...

guild A guild ( ) is an association of artisans and merchants who oversee the practice of their craft/trade in a particular territory. The earliest types of guild formed as organizations of tradespeople belonging to a professional association. They so ...

Art collection

He is best known today for his art collection. He was portrayed repeatedly by

Anthony van Dyck Sir Anthony van Dyck (; ; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque painting, Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy. The seventh child of ...

including in the 1620 Portrait of Cornelis van der Geest.

Willem van Haecht Willem van Haecht (1593 – 12 July 1637) was a Flemish painter best known for his pictures of art galleries and collections. Life Willem van Haecht was born in Antwerp as the son of the landscape painter Tobias Verhaecht. Tobias Verhaecht ...

, whom he had hired as curator, painted his " constcammer" several times, including a view of the visit of

Albert VII, Archduke of Austria Albert VII (; 13 November 1559 – 13 July 1621) was the ruling Archduke of Austria for a few months in 1619 and, jointly with his wife, Isabella Clara Eugenia, sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1598 and 1621. Prior to this, he had ...

and

Isabella Clara Eugenia Isabella Clara Eugenia (; 12 August 1566 – 1 December 1633), sometimes referred to as Clara Isabella Eugenia, was sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands, which comprised the Low Countries and the north of modern France, with her husband Albert ...

to his art collection. He owned two paintings by Quentin Matsys, one of which, a ''Madonna'', can be seen in the Van Haecht painting. Other works included in that view are ''Women at her toilet'' by

Jan van Eyck Jan van Eyck ( ; ; – 9 July 1441) was a Flemish people, Flemish painter active in Bruges who was one of the early innovators of what became known as Early Netherlandish painting, and one of the most significant representatives of Early Nort ...

, a still life by Frans Snyders, ''Ceres Mocked'' by Adam Elsheimer, ''

Danaë In Greek mythology, Danaë (, ; ; , ) was an Argive princess and mother of the hero Perseus by Zeus. She was credited with founding the city of Ardea in Latium during the Bronze Age. Family Danae was the daughter and only child of King Acr ...

'' by Van Haecht, ''Battle of the Amazons'' and a portrait by

Peter Paul Rubens Sir Peter Paul Rubens ( ; ; 28 June 1577 – 30 May 1640) was a Flemish painting, Flemish artist and diplomat. He is considered the most influential artist of the Flemish Baroque painting, Flemish Baroque tradition. Rubens' highly charged comp ...

, ''Peasant Company with Woman making Pancakes'' by

Pieter Aertsen Pieter Aertsen (1508, Amsterdam – 2 June 1575, Amsterdam), called ''Lange Piet'' ("Tall Pete") because of his height, was a Dutch painter in the style of Northern Mannerism. He is credited with the invention of the monumental genre scene, whi ...

, ''Apelles'' by Jan Wierix and a hunting scene by Jan Wildens. The painting also shows some of Van der Geest's sculptures, with copies of the '' Venus de' Medici'', the ''

Farnese Hercules The ''Farnese Hercules'' () is an ancient statue of Hercules made in the early third century AD and signed by Glykon, who is otherwise unknown; he was an Athenian but he may have worked in Rome. Like many other Ancient Roman sculptures it is a ...

'', and the ''

Apollo Belvedere The ''Apollo Belvedere'' (also called the ''Belvedere Apollo'', ''Apollo of the Belvedere'', or ''Pythian Apollo'') is a celebrated marble sculpture from classical antiquity. The work has been dated to mid-way through the 2nd century A.D. and is ...

''. Paintings by Willem van Haecht of his art gallery: File:Willem van Haecht - Collection of Cornelis van der Geest with Joseph and Potiphar's wife.jpg, (1) ''Collection of Cornelis van der Geest with Joseph and Potiphar's wife'', File:Willem van Haecht - Alexander the Great visits the studio of Apelles N08610-169-lr-1.jpg, (2) ''Alexander the Great visits the studio of Apelles'', File:Willem van Haecht (II) - Apelles painting Campaspe - 2.jpg, (3) ''Apelles painting Campaspe'', File:Willem van Haecht - Collection of Cornelis de Geest wirh Paracelsus.jpg, alt=Charles Webster, 'Bare Heads against Red Hats: a portrait of Paracelsus', in From Physico-Theology to Bio- Technology: Essays in the Social and Cultural History of Biosciences, ed. by Kurt Bayertz and Roy Porter (Amsterdam: Rodopi, 1998) pp. 54-75, (4) ''Spurious portrait of Paracelsus in the Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest'', 1620-1637 (see C. Webster, 'Bare Heads against Red Hats', in ''From Physico-Theology to Bio-Technology'', Amsterdam 1998, 54-75). File:The Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest.JPG, (5) ''Albert and Isabella visiting the Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest'', 1628 File:Willem van Haecht Władysław Vasa.JPG, (5) Left side detail: portraits of Isabella and Archduke Albert, Rubens, Prince Władysław Vasa of Poland (who visited van der Geest's Gallery in 1624, with black hat) and the host showing the Matsys ''Madonna'' Paintings hanging in his art gallery followed by the numbers of the five gallery paintings above: File:Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest detail.jpg, '' Woman at her Toilet'' by

(5) File:Quinten Massijs (I) or workshop 001.jpg, '' Madonna and Child Kissing'' by Quentin Matsys (5) File:Elsheimer, Adam - Ceres and Stellio.jpg, ''Ceres Mocked'', by Adam Elsheimer (5) File:Willem van Haecht - Apelles painting Campaspe - detail upper right (cropped Judith and Holofernes after Elsheimer).jpg, ''Judith and Holofernes'', by Adam Elsheimer (3 & 5) File:Pieter Aertsen — The Pancake Bakery.jpg, ''The Pancake Bakery'', by

(5) File:Les pèlerins d'Emmaüs by Paul Bril.jpg, ''Pilgrims at Emmaus'' by

Paul Bril Paul Bril (1554 – 7 October 1626) was a Southern Netherlands, Flemish painter and printmaker principally known for his Landscape art, landscapes.Nicola Courtright. "Paul Bril." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. ...

(4) File:Daniel Seghers - Flowers in a Vase.jpg, ''Flowers in a Vase'', by Daniel Seghers (2,3 & 4) File:Frans Snyders - Game Larder Still Life Hung Game with a Swan and a Peacock on a Table and a Page Holding a Parrot NTII CCP 533858.jpg, ''Game Larder Still Life with a Page Holding a Parrot'', by Frans Snyders (1,2,3 & 5) File:Quentin Matsys-bildnis eines gelehrten-Portrait of a scholar.jpg, ''Portrait of a Scholar'', by Quentin Matsys (2,3 & 5) File:Quentin Massys 001.jpg, '' The Money Changer and His Wife'', by Quentin Matsys (3) File:Peter Paul Rubens 185.jpg, '' The Reconciliation of Esau and Jacob'', by Rubens, (1) File:Peter Paul Rubens - Battle of the Amazons - WGA20302.jpg, '' Battle of the Amazons'' by Rubens (3 & 5) File:Mucius Scaevola vor Porsenna Rubens van Dyck.jpg, ''Mucius Scaevola before Porsenna'', by Rubens (4) File:Rubens - The Drunken Satyr.jpg, ''The Drunken Satyr'', by Rubens (2,3 & 4) File:Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), Portrait of a commander, Christie's Images.jpg, '' Portrait of a Commander'', by Rubens (5) File:Anthony van Dyck - Achilles recognized among daughters of Lycomedes.jpg, ''Achilles recognized among daughters of Lycomedes'', by

(2) File:Anton van Dyck - Samson and Delilah - Google Art Project.jpg, '' Samson and Delilah'' by Anthony van Dyck (3) File:Sebastiano del Piombo 003.jpg, ''Portrait of Ferry Carondelet with his Secretaries'', by

Sebastiano del Piombo Sebastiano del Piombo (; – 21 June 1547) was an Italian painter of the High Renaissance and early Mannerism, Mannerist periods, famous as the only major artist of the period to combine the colouring of the Venetian School (art), Venetian scho ...

, (1,2,3 & 4) File:Bernaert van orley (attr.), guerriero romano e servo, 1530 ca. 01.JPG, ''Roman Soldier and Servant'', by Bernaert van Orley, (2,3 & 4) File:Apollo Daphne Albani Louvre INV18.jpg, ''Apollo and Daphne'', by

Francesco Albani Francesco Albani or Albano (17 March or 17 August 1578 – 4 October 1660) was an Italian Baroque painter of Albanian descent who was active in Bologna (1591–1600; 1609; 1610; 1618–1622), Rome (1600–1609; 1610–1617; 1623–1625), ...

, (1 & 3) File:Hans Rottenhammer - Frühling.jpg, ''Spring'', by

Hans Rottenhammer Johann Rottenhammer, or Hans Rottenhammer (1564 – 14 August 1625), was a German painter. He specialized in highly finished paintings on a small scale. Biography He was born in Munich, where he studied until 1588 under Hans Donauer the Eld ...

, (2,3,4 & 5) File:Hans Rottenhammer - Das Jüngste Gericht - 1598.jpg, ''Last Judgement'', by Hans Rottenhammer, (5) File:Titian - Venus Blindfolding Cupid - WGA22908.jpg, '' Venus Blindfolding Cupid'', by Titian (2,3 & 4) File:Correggio - Venus and Cupid with a Satyr.jpg, '' Venus and Cupid with a Satyr'', by

Correggio Antonio Allegri da Correggio (August 1489 – 5 March 1534), usually known as just Correggio (, also , , ), was an Italian Renaissance painter who was the foremost painter of the Parma school of the High Renaissance, who was responsible for som ...

(2,3 & 4) File:Otto van Veen - The Last Supper.jpg, ''The Last Supper'', by

Otto van Veen Otto van Veen (also known by his Latinized names Otto Venius or Octavius Vaenius; 1556 – 6 May 1629), was a Painting, painter, Drawing, draughtsman, and Humanism, humanist active primarily in Antwerp and City of Brussels, Brussels in the late ...

, (4 & 5) File:WILDENS Winter Landscape.jpg, ''Winter Landscape'', by Jan Wildens (5) File:Het Kranenhoofd aan de Schelde te Antwerpen Rijksmuseum SK-A-1699.jpeg, ''Kranenhoofd on the Schelde in Antwerp'', by Sebastian Vrancx (5) File:Hendrick van Balen - The Rape of Europa.jpg, ''The Rape of Europa'', by Hendrick van Balen (2 & 3) File:Vincenzo Campi - The Bean Eaters.jpg, ''The Bean Eaters'', by Vincenzo Campi (3) File:Guido Reni - Tod der Kleopatra Potsdam Sanssouci.jpg, ''Death of Cleopatra'', by

Guido Reni Guido Reni (; 4 November 1575 – 18 August 1642) was an Italian Baroque painter, although his works showed a classical manner, similar to Simon Vouet, Nicolas Poussin, and Philippe de Champaigne. He painted primarily religious works, but al ...

(3) File:Domenichino - Diana and her Nymphs - WGA06390.jpg, ''Diana and her Nymphs'', by

Domenichino Domenico Zampieri (, ; October 21, 1581 – April 6, 1641), known by the diminutive Domenichino (, ) after his shortness, was an Italian Baroque painter of the Bolognese School of painters. Life Domenichino was born in Bologna, son of a shoe ...

(3) File:Couple with a mirror by Willem van Haecht.jpg, ''Couple with a Mirror'', (1,3 & 4) File:Felice Brusasorci - Venus in the Forge of Vulcan.jpg, ''Venus in the Forge of Vulcan'', by Felice Riccio (2,3 & 5) File:Paracelsus.jpg, ''Lost portrait wrongly considered as that of Paracelsus'', by Quentin Matsys (5)

Maecenas

Van der Geest also functioned as a

maecenas Gaius Cilnius Maecenas ( 13 April 68 BC – 8 BC) was a friend and political advisor to Octavian (who later reigned as emperor Augustus). He was also an important patron for the new generation of Augustan poets, including both Horace and Virgil. ...

. He arranged for Rubens to get the order for a triptych for the

Saint Walpurga Walpurga or Walburga (; ; ; 71025 February 777 or 779) was an Anglo-Saxon missionary to the Frankish Empire. She was canonized on 1 May c. 870 by Pope Adrian II. Walpurgis Night, Saint Walpurgis Night (or "Sankt Walpurgisnacht") is the name fo ...

church in Antwerp, which resulted in the '' Elevation of the Cross'', now in the Cathedral of Antwerp. Similarly, the order for the 1630-1632 ''Triptych of Saint Ildephonsus'', intended for the Saint James church, but now in the

Kunsthistorisches Museum The Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien ( "Vienna Museum of art history, Art History", often referred to as the "Museum of Fine Arts, Vienna") is an art museum in Vienna, Austria. Housed in its festive palatial building on the Vienna Ring Road, i ...

in Vienna, was given to Rubens through the influence of Van der Geest. Van der Geest also financed a new memorial for Quentin Metsys against the tower of the Antwerp Cathedral.
Geschiedenis der Antwerpsche rederykkamers
', chapter 1, ''Geschiedenis der violieren'', by J. B. Van Der Staelen, 1834

Notes

External links

*
Love in the Kunstkamer
' in fine arts magazine ''Tableau'', by Gary Schwartz *
Willem van Haecht schilderde in 1628 de constkamer van cornelis van der geest; een multi-interpreteerbaar tijdsdocument
', Dutch article about painting (5) in magazine ''Vlaanderen'', Jaargang 43, 1994 {{DEFAULTSORT:Geest, Cornelis van der 1577 births 1638 deaths Art collectors from Antwerp Flemish merchants Businesspeople from Antwerp 17th-century merchants Paintings of art galleries Merchants from the Spanish Netherlands

Art collection

Maecenas

See also

Notes

External links