Designs for Altarpieces by Maarten van Heemskerck

• Published in: Oud-Holland Vol. 128; no. 1; pp. 17 - 38
• Main Author: Veldman, Ilja M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands BRILL 01-01-2015; Brill
• ISSN: 0030-672X; 1875-0176; 0030-672X
• DOI: 10.1163/18750176-90000204

The fame of Maarten van Heemskerck as a draughtsman rests mainly on his drawings of classical sculptures and ruins made during his Roman stay. Rather different are Van Heemskerck's hundreds of detailed preparatory drawings for prints, engraved in copper by professional engravers and etchers. Preparatory drawings for paintings are a third category. However, this category is hardly represented in Van Heemskerck's oeuvre on paper, in spite of the fact that painting was his main activity and the reason for his fame. At least 110 paintings have survived Iconoclasm and the ravages of time. It is this group of drawings that is the subject of this analysis. There are only a few left, all depicting religious themes and all rather different in style. None of them has ever received much attention. The sheets are important, however, for they offer a glimpse of Van Heemskerck's activity as a designer of religious paintings and altarpieces.