David Teniers I, the Elder
(Antwerp 1582 - 1649)

"Susanna and the Elders"

Oil on copper

12,48"x17,52",  31.7x44.5 cm

This beautiful painting has been studied by professor Didier Bodart, Belgian Art Historian specialized in Flemish and Dutch old masters, who states that this is a typical work of David Teniers I.
It is an Italo-Flemish work that still has the savour of late mannerism, with characteristics that indicate knowledge of Adam Elsheimer's works (died in Rome 1610). According to the 17th Flemish art historian Cornelis de Bie, David Teniers the Elder was a companion in Rome of Adam Elsheimer who settled down in the "Eternal Town" achieving notoriety as a landscape and figure painter, he also befriended Pier-Paul Rubens around 1606-1608.
In 1595 David Teniers the Elder was Juliaen Teniers pupil, his elder brother, a landscape painter in Joos de Momper's style, in 1606 he became master in the Guild of St. Luke in Antwerp, therefore his stay in Italy dates to around 1600-1606, in the same period as Rubens.
This artist was a subject of exhaustive studies by E. Duverger and H. Vlieghe published in the volume "David Teniers der Aeltere, ein Vergessener Fläminischer Nachfolger Adam Elsheimers, Utrecht, 1971". There are no known works of David Teniers the Elder of the Italian period but the influence of Adam Elsheimer can be found in a number of compositions. He was inspired mainly by the figures of Elsheimer, the painting that remarks this characteristic is "The adoration of Magi" (Aix-la-Chapelle, Suermondt Museum) that is represented in a landscape with important roman ruins.

This unpublished work, "Susanna and the Elders" can be compared with "The rest during the flight to Egypt" (Stockholm, previously in the Tamm collection), "The Reconciliation of Jacob and Isais" (Lucerne, the Fischer sale, 3rd September 1938 n°1706), "Alexander and Diogene" (London, Dean Cevat collection), "The encounter  of Jacob and Leban"(Antwerp, Maagdenhuis) and also with "Minerva visiting the Muses" (Switzerland, private collection).

David Teniers the Elder is the father of David Teniers the Younger (Antwerp 1610-Brusseles 1690) one of the most famous Flemish genre painter of the 17th century.

The painting is sold with the original expertise by professor Didier Bodart and with an authenticated photograph.