Treasure trove

The recent revival of interest in Orientalism has led to the rediscovery of the technically outstanding but unfairly sidelined Dutch painter and printmaker Marius Bauer (1867-1932).

Bauer was an inveterate traveller, going off to India, Indonesia, Turkey, Palestine and Morocco among other destinations. In 1888 he was given the opportunity to make his first trip east, to Istanbul (then Constantinople) by the art dealer E.J. van Wisselingh. He returned with more than 100 drawings and several full sketchbooks. This pattern repeated itself again and again. In late 2017 the Pulchri Studio in The Hague held an exhibition commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Bauer, "Marius Bauer: Verslaafd aan het Oosten".

This etching of 1902 is a rare and untypical work by Bauer, for once a historical European rather than an Orientalist theme. It depicts an older man leading a younger one down some steps from an open doorway into a pillared vault with large trunks or chests. The older man is holding keys and both are dressed in late medieval or early Renaissance period doublet and hose. What exciting discoveries will they make in the treasure chests?

See:

https://www.codart.nl/guide/exhibitions/marius-bauer-1867-1932/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marius_Bauer

Dr Mark Stocker  Curator, Historical International Art   February 2018