The Engraving by Jan Thomas

The Ypres Museum has acquired a beautiful engraving by Jan Thomas van Yperen, Rubens' right-hand man.

Who was Jan Thomas van Yperen?

Jan Thomas was a renowned name in the 17th century: painter, engraver, court painter and pupil of none other than Pieter Paul Rubens.

The artist was born in Ypres in 1617 and became one of Rubens' right-hand men in Antwerp. Later, Jan Thomas moved via Germany to Vienna, where he died as a court painter. His Baroque works are currently scattered throughout Europe. Works are regularly added to Jan Thomas' oeuvre because they were initially mistakenly attributed to other masters.

New acquisition

Because the Ypres Museum practises thoughtful collection management, curator Jan Dewilde regularly searches for works by Ypres masters. Last month, for example, the existing collection of Jan Thomas van Yperen was expanded with this beautiful print engraving.

The print shows Saint Bernard kneeling. In a vision, he sees Mary, with her right breast exposed, from which a ray of breast milk sprays onto Saint Bernard's lips.

The print is signed three times: “Ioa. Thomas delineavit”, which refers to Jan Thomas as the designer of the print; “Mich. Natalis sculpsit”, the name of the engraver, and “Vidua Cnobbaert excud”, referring to the printer, the widow Cnobbaert. Fun fact: Jan Thomas married the daughter of the widow Cnobbaert, which allows the Ypres Museum to accurately date the engraving: 1642.

The Jan Thomas van Yperen collection

The Ypres Museum now has two beautiful paintings, a watercolour copy, an etching and this beautiful engraving by Jan Thomas van Yperen in its possession. The new print is the oldest work in the series. The engraving was purchased from an art dealer in Dresden for 158 euros.