The Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath
Cornelis van Poelenburch·c. 1630
Historical Context
Cornelis van Poelenburch's Prophet Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath from around 1630 depicts the Old Testament miracle in which Elijah multiplied the widow's meal and oil during a famine. Poelenburch was the leading Dutch Italianate painter of his generation, having spent years in Rome where he absorbed the warm light and Arcadian landscape of the Italian countryside. His small, jewel-like paintings on panel combine biblical subjects with idealized Italian landscape settings.
Technical Analysis
Poelenburch's oil-on-panel technique demonstrates his refined, miniaturist approach with smooth, carefully blended surfaces and warm, golden light. The Italianate landscape setting and small, elegantly drawn figures reflect his synthesis of Roman landscape tradition with Dutch precision.
Provenance
Cottin collection; (his sale, by Pierre Remy and Sieur Helle, Paris, 27 November-22 December 1752, 1st day, no. 382);[1] purchased by Le Brun. (sale, Sotheby's, London, 21 February 1962, no. 66); (Thos. Agnew and Sons, Ltd., London); sold 29 May 1963 to Joseph F. McCrindle [1923-2008], New York;[2] gift 2004 to NGA. [1] The painting was sold as a pendant to Poelenburch’s “Abraham conduissant son Fil Isaac au lieu du Sacrifice, 12 pounces de haut sur 15 1/2 de large.” On the verso of the panel are some unidentified wax seals. [2] Also on the verso is an Agnew’s label with the number 24022 stenciled on it. Venetia Harlow, Agnew’s archivist, confirmed in an e-mail of 21 December 2009 to Arthur K. Wheelock, Jr. (in NGA curatorial files) that this label number corresponded to Agnew’s stock number 3792, and provided the details of their acquisition and sale of the painting.
