This thesis in two volumes is a study of the paintings of David ill Ryckaert (1612-
1661 ). Ryckaert grew up in a family of artists, and painted within a close community
of fellow artists. According to several twentieth-century critics, Ryckaert was no
more than a minor imitator of other Flemish painters. Underlying such relegation of
Ryckaert is an uncritical and distinctly Modernist glorification of originality, or
merely novelty. The chief argument of this thesis is that a careful reconstruction of
the socio-cultural circumstances ofRyckaert's work calls into question the destructive
employment of originality as a criterion of artistic greatness. Much of the vocabulary
of Flemish art of the time was established. Artists thus proved their excellence both
to fellow painters and a public fully conversant with the artistic traditions of subject
and style, if such pictorial conventions were notably refmed or treated with a
remarkable grace. Embracing the criteria of personal style and the beauty of the work,
this environment is clearly averse to the blank veneration of new or original art.
I argue that the term originality is itself dangerous therefore and that to neglect
Ryckaert's work as that of a minor imitator is invalid and unhelpful.
A careful examination of Ryckaert's known oeuvre reveals that his work is
distinguished by a fine modelling, harmonious composition and a warm palette with
colourful highlights. Although he relied on an established iconographic repertory, he
maintained creative variation, thereby ensuring a steady demand. Ryckaert's imitation
of other artists' work requires us to adjust twentieth-century criteria which tend to be
pejorative of those who borrow from fellow artists. In fact Ryckaert could be said to
have refmed his individuality as a painter through the testing creative encounter with
and imitation of other artists. / Art / D.Litt. et Phil. (History of Art)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:umkn-dsp01.int.unisa.ac.za:10500/16916 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Haute, Bernadette van |
| Contributors | Skawran, Karin, Vlieghe, Hans |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource |
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