Crispin van den Broeck (Mechelen 1523-1589/91 Antwerp)

This rare, large-scale work by Crispin van den Broeck illustrates an episode in the biblical narrative of the escape of the Israelites, led by Moses, from the pursuing Egyptians (Exodus 13:17-14:29). A number of sizeable works by van den Broeck are listed in historic sources. However, very few of them are known today and, besides a handful of large altarpieces in churches in Italy and Antwerp, only two of a size comparable to the present picture are known in public collections: the first, Christ healing the Stricken at Bethesda (signed and dated 1577; Royal Collection, Hampton Court); and the Battle of Roman Horsemen (Kulturhistorisch Museum of Stralsund, Sweden) (see. P. Wescher, 'Cripstin van den Broeck as Painter', in Jaarboek van het Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten te Antwerpen, 1974, pp. 171-4).

We are grateful to Dr. Thomas Fusenig for confirming the attribution to Crispin van den Broeck.