Lot 17: ATTRIBUTED TO JACOB ISAACSZ. VAN SWANENBURG (LEIDEN 1571-1638 UTRECHT) The Temptation of St Anthony,

ATTRIBUTED TO JACOB ISAACSZ. VAN SWANENBURG (LEIDEN 1571-1638 UTRECHT) The Temptation of St Anthony, Oil on canvas, 36.5 by 55 cm.
Jacob Isaacsz. van Swanenburg is best known for being Rembrandt van Rijn's first tutor, who spent two and a half years with him from circa 1620. Van Swanenburg was the son of a painter who later became mayor of the town of Leiden. In circa 1591 he travelled to Italy on the Grand Tour and returned to Leiden having converted to Catholicism with his Italian wife and children in 1618. Here, he continued to paint scenes of hell, for which he is best known for, although only one fully signed painting is recorded. It is most likely that he was inspired by the Flemish painter Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1450-1516). This present work depicts The Temptation of Saint Anthony and contains many elements derived from his scenes of hell.