Gerard Seghers: Drawings & Paintings (Annotated)

Seghers is best known for his monumental genre paintings and great religious and figurative works. He has completed many altars for churches in the South of Holland. Most of his pictures were performed in a horizontal format.
Stylistically and thematically, Seghers has initially been strongly influenced by Caravaggio and in particular by the work of Bartolomeo Manfredi, the follower of Caravaggio. Caravaggism, both in history and in great genre paintings, continues to mark the work of Seghers after returning to Antwerp. Unlike Caravaggio, he preferred a more idealized attitude toward his subjects. The impact of Caravaggism can be seen in his dependence on chiaroscuro, close plans and exaggerated expression of dramatic effect. He often uses figures like repoussoirs to hide the source of light (usually candles). Favorite themes are music scenes and card games.
Seghers was mostly interested in portraying flesh and blood, preferably at a time of crisis, which allowed the artist to paint his sitters' different facial expressions. The masked candle he used increased the expression and added a spiritual dimension. He and his studio produced many copies of his versions of this theme.