18th century painting Georges Van Den Bos (1853-1911) - 34¾" x 42¼"

This very dark painting is of an uncomfortable scene. The subject of the painting is dressed entirely in black with a large cloak that echoes the wings of the bats on the right. He holds a large open book. The lady in the red dress is sitting with her head lowered. She has a very embellished purse indicative of her wealth- it is as though the cloaked man is taking money from her. This painting is so very dark, that one wonders how Van Den Bos was able to paint it. Note the black cat, skulls, skeletons and tarot cards. A second lady is dressed in black and stands with her arms crossed. Oil on canvas with repairs visible from behind. It is signed on the bottom right.

 

Georges Van Den Bos (1853-1911) was a Belgian painter, born in Gand and he studie in Gand and Brussels before finishing his degree in Paris. His works include landscapes and figurative portraiture. His most well-known works are elegant portraits of women, evocative of the style of works by Vittorio Matteo Corcos and Frederik Hendrik Kaemmerer.