The Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest, 1628

This painting by the Netherlandish artist Willem van Haecht (1593–1637), one of those who called the Konstcamer (Kunstkammer) genre into being, depicts the visit of an illustrious retinue of guests to the Antwerp merchant and art collector Cornelis van der Geest (1575–1638). These included the Polish crown prince Ladislaus (1595–1648), and the regents of the Spanish Netherlands, Archduke Albert VII (1559–1621) and Isabella (1566–1633), who visited him in his townhouse in Mattenstraat in 1615 (bottom left). They are being shown famous artworks from van der Geest’s collection: on the side wall Jan van Eyck’s Woman Bathing, The Last Judgement by Hans Rottenhammer, Pieter Aertsen’s The Pancake Bakery, Portrait of a Scholar by Quinten Massys, and The Last Supper by Otto van Veen. Other features of the painting are the sculptures by the Italian Giambologna (Giovanni da Bologna, 1529–1608), some pieces of Chinese porcelain, and a number of scientific instruments.

The Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest, oil on wood panel, 1628, artist: Willem van Haecht (1593–1637); source: Rubenshuis, RH.S.171, Collectie Stad Antwerpen, Rubenshuis, photograph: CC BY-SA KIK-IRPA, Brussels, https://dams.antwerpen.be/asset/yJpjJCarbvjLSemfWFDHny56#id, public domain.