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Roelandt Savery (1576-1639)

Publication at Catholic Theological Faculty |
2021

Abstract

The contribution summarizes the Flemish painter's work at the Prague imperial court of Rudolph II. He worked in Prague in 1603/1604-1613. The circumstances of his involvement in Prague and the conditions under which Savery and his family fled from their native Flanders are recorded in some preserved written sources, the interpretation of which the article deals with. Reports indicate that Savery was highly valued by Emperor Rudolph II himself, who granted him many privileges

Savery made a number of impressive city views (both vedute and picturesque scenes depicting half-derelict houses, often animated by figures). In total, at least 200 drawings and several dozen paintings have survived from his Prague period. He produced for the emperor many drawings in style of Pieter Brueghel the Elder. He learned to draw masterfully in the style of Bruegel, even produced outright fakes, which were not recognized by experts until the 1970s. Savery was an exceptionally gifted versatile artist, undoubtedly one of the most prominent personalities who worked at the court of Rudolph II. The preceding article therefore summarizes the ten-year period that Savery spent in Prague.