Lot 2: Attributed to Jan Tengnagel (Amsterdam 1584-1635)

Elisha and the Widow with her two sons
oil on panel
34 x 46 cm. (13 3/8 x 18 1/8 in.)

Dr. Christopher Brown believes the present picture to be by Jan Pynas, a rare Haarlem painter, whose work is frequently confused with that of his better known younger brother, Jacob Pynas (1585-1656). The two brothers travelled to Italy circa 1605 and returned to Holland with a new kind of history painting much influenced by Italian art and also by Elsheimer. Together with Pieter Lastman, Nicolas Moyart and Jan Tengnagel, they formed what are now known as the 'Pre-Rembrandtists'.

Dr. Astrid and Christian Tümpel, on the other hand do not accept the attribution to Pynas and intend to publish the present picture in the forthcoming second edition of their book as by an unknown Pre-Rembrandtist. The Tümpels point out that the composition may have been influenced by an anonymous 16th century print, known through a 17th century copper engraving by Pieter H. Schut (published in Toneel ofte Vertooch der Bybelsche Historien, Amsterdam 1659, no.112).

Elisha was sent for by a rich woman of Shunem, who had earlier befriended him because her son had collapsed and was feared dead. Elisha saved the boy. This was a popular story as it was seen as a precursor of the Raising of Lazarus.