The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard
Artist/Maker
Material / Technique
Dimensionsh x w: Mått 69 x 129 cm h x w x d: Ram 88 x 147 x 8 cm
Inventory numberNM 420
Other titlesTitle (sv): Liknelsen om vingårdsmannen Title (en): The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard
DescriptionCatalogue raisonné: Description in Flemish paintings C. 1600-C. 1800 III, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, 2010, cat.no. 169: Technical notes: The support consists of a single piece of fine, dense, even, plain weave fabric, probably linen. The tacking edges are preserved on the left, right and lower edges. The motif extends beyond the folded edges on three sides. Cusping is present on the left, right and lower side. The ground consists of a thin and evenly applied reddish layer followed by a light grey imprimatur. This is visible in part where the paint has been worn. The paint layers have been applied using an opaque technique and only small impasto highlights can be seen. The figures are intact without retouches apart from one holding a sack in the bottom left-hand corner of the painting. Partial retouches can be found in the drapery and the foreground and background. The contours of the left side of the table and the figure in the centre of the image have been enhanced. The painting underwent conservation treatment in 1832, 1949 and 1985. Provenance: Possibly Prague War Booty 1648; KM 1795, no. 21 (as Gernandt van den Eeckhout); KM 1816, no. 666. Bibliography: NM Cat. 1867, p. 29 (as G. Van den Eeckhout); Sander IV, pp. 98–99, no. 666 (as school of Teniers); Göthe 1887, p. 169 (as anonymous Netherlands master, c. 1650); Göthe 1893, pp. 133–134 (as anonymous Dutch master); Göthe 1900, p. 138 (as anonymous Dutch?, c. 1650); Granberg 1902, p. 111, no. 110 (as anonymous Flemish Master, early 17th century); Göthe 1910, p. 149; NM Cat. 1958, p. 178 (as David Ryckaert III); NM Cat. 1990, p. 322; Van Haute 1999, p. 170, no. C 5 (as not by David Ryckaert). Acording to Granberg (1902) this painting could have been part of the Prague Booty 1648; The motif is the parable of the labourers in the vineyard (Matt 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–10). In this parable Christ is telling the story about a landowner who hired labourers for his wineyard. He gave all the labourers the same wage regardless of the hours they had worked. The ones who had worked all day protested in vain. “Thus will the last be first, and the first last” in the kingdom of heaven, was Christ’s message. In the painting we can see the owner of the vineyard, an elderly man with a headdress resembling a turban, sitting behind a table covered with a green velvet cloth. Behind him a red drapery can be seen and in its shadow stands a servant, while another kneels holding a bag of money. The labourers are approaching the table, the first, dressed in white, is pointing back at the others, who are unsteady on their feet and supporting each other. This work has been attributed to a large number of artists, above all those influenced by David Teniers. Göthe refers in his catalogue to Francois Duchatel, H. M. Sorgh and the monogrammist C. R. Göthe also speculated about Dutch masters like Jan Victors and Jan Molenaer (Göthe 1893). In a later edition of his catalogue (1910) Göthe mentions, however, that certain figures resemble those of David Ryckaert III. The Nationalmuseum catalogue 1958 contains the first certain attribution to Ryckaert III resulting from a letter from Gerson and Gudlaugsson.1 Romdahl and Nicholsson have also attributed the work to David Ryckaert III. The attribution has however been questioned by Van Haute (1999). GCB 1 See NM curatorial files, 16–17 August 1956. [End]
Motif categoryReligion/Mythology
Collection
TechniquePainting
Object category
Keyword
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