Jordaens Van Dyck Panel Paintings Project

This four-year project is an innovative art historical initiative, which will enhance and significantly add to the knowledge regarding two of the 17th Century’s most famous Flemish painters, Jacob Jordaens and Anthony Van Dyck. It will allow a far better understanding of the functioning of Rubens’ studio and the role of Van Dyck and Jordaens therein. For the first time, the oil paintings on oak panel of these artists will be forensically examined and studied systematically in a multidisciplinary context.
Firstly, the wood will be subjected to tree ring analysis. Dendrochronology will reveal the age of the tree, identify where it grew and determine the date that it was felled.
Secondly, the individual panel maker’s house brand marks on the back of the panel and the separate quality control brand marks of the Antwerp Guild of St Luke will be systematically recorded and analysed.
The third component of the project is archival research. This project will systematically mine the Antwerp archives for information regarding Jordaens, Van Dyck, the Guild of Saint Luke, patrons and panel makers.