Gorzius Geldorp,
Portrait Of A Gentleman
Case Study
A fine early 17th-century bust-length portrait, attributed to the workshop of Flemish artist Gortzius Geldorp (1553-c.1619), depicting a gentleman possibly associated with the Lieven family.
Assessment
The painting arrived with much of its beauty concealed behind layers of accumulated dirt and heavily discoloured varnish.
Approach
Following a series of tests, which included analysis under ultraviolet light, our team undertook a careful clean of the surface layer followed by a full and thorough removal of multiple varnish layers.
Result
As each layer was revealed, the hand of previous restorers became evident, with the earliest restoration possibly occurring during the 18th century. Diligent retouching was undertaken and the end result was remarkable. Today, the painting exhibits an old master ‘glow’ and its vitality has been restored.
Gorzius Geldorp
(1553-c.1619)
Born in Leuven, Flemish Brabant, information relating to the early part of Geldorp’s career is scarce. The art historian, Karel van Mander (1548-1606), was the first to allude to him, referring to him as ‘Gualdrop Gortzius gheseyt Geldrop’ (Gualdrop Gortzius called Geldrop), which suggests that his family hailed from Geldrop in North Brabant, The Netherlands. This remains uncertain however, as nothing is known of his forebears.
It’s generally accepted that he travelled to Antwerp in 1569 and trained under two of its principal painters, Frans Francken I (1542-1616) and Frans Pourbus the Elder (1545-1581). Pourbus was a master of highly individualised portrayals with fine details rendered deftly.
He’s represented in numerous public collections including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The British Museum, Museum of Fine Art in Budapest, Stadel Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. The artist George Geldorp (1580/1595-1665) was his son.