Jacques Charles de Bellange is one of the most mysterious artists of the turn of the 17th century representing Mannerism. His place of birth and his ancestry are unknown. French scientists believe he was born in the area of Bossini also known as Bellange, not far from the village of Lamothe. The French troops destroyed this village in 1645 when invading Lotharingia, and now it no longer exists.
The artistic activities of de Bellange, the painter, drawer and engraver, is connected with Nancy, at that time — the capital of the sovereign Duchy of Lotharingia. He was the court painter for Dukes Charles III and Henry II and painted portraits, religious and mythological subjects, created scenery and costumes for the theatre. In 1606, on the wedding of Henry II and Margherita Gonzaga, he painted 20 hunting scenes for the Deer Gallery in the Dukes’ palace (lost in 1871).
In 1608, the Duke of Lotharingia commissioned de Bellange to France to study the fancy decorations of the royal castles. The artist is widely credited for about one hundred drawings and just a few paintings. He created 48 engravings, predominantly on religious topics, and he was engraving using only his own drawings.
The engraving (the etching) Saint James the Greater depicts Apostle James, the son of Zebedee (a fisherman from Galilee) and the brother of John the Divine. James was among those close to Christ, together with Peter and John he was present at the Transfiguration and at the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was put to the rack and then to death in 44 by Herod Agrippa. In his left hand, James is holding a staff, and he is wearing a broad-brim hat of a pilgrim on the head. His special attribute is a cameo shell. Medieval pilgrims used to call it St. James’ comb, and attached it to their hats as an evidence of their pilgrimage. Sometimes they used it as a utensil when travelling.
Pieces by de Bellange are very scarce, and not a single museum in the world possesses a full collection of his etchings. Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts holds three sheets by the master from his Apostles Series. The museum received Saint James the Great in 1919 from Baryatino estate of Tarussa parish in Kaluga Province as part of a private collection of princes Gorchakovs.
The artistic activities of de Bellange, the painter, drawer and engraver, is connected with Nancy, at that time — the capital of the sovereign Duchy of Lotharingia. He was the court painter for Dukes Charles III and Henry II and painted portraits, religious and mythological subjects, created scenery and costumes for the theatre. In 1606, on the wedding of Henry II and Margherita Gonzaga, he painted 20 hunting scenes for the Deer Gallery in the Dukes’ palace (lost in 1871).
In 1608, the Duke of Lotharingia commissioned de Bellange to France to study the fancy decorations of the royal castles. The artist is widely credited for about one hundred drawings and just a few paintings. He created 48 engravings, predominantly on religious topics, and he was engraving using only his own drawings.
The engraving (the etching) Saint James the Greater depicts Apostle James, the son of Zebedee (a fisherman from Galilee) and the brother of John the Divine. James was among those close to Christ, together with Peter and John he was present at the Transfiguration and at the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was put to the rack and then to death in 44 by Herod Agrippa. In his left hand, James is holding a staff, and he is wearing a broad-brim hat of a pilgrim on the head. His special attribute is a cameo shell. Medieval pilgrims used to call it St. James’ comb, and attached it to their hats as an evidence of their pilgrimage. Sometimes they used it as a utensil when travelling.
Pieces by de Bellange are very scarce, and not a single museum in the world possesses a full collection of his etchings. Kaluga Museum of Fine Arts holds three sheets by the master from his Apostles Series. The museum received Saint James the Great in 1919 from Baryatino estate of Tarussa parish in Kaluga Province as part of a private collection of princes Gorchakovs.
