Charles van Wijk (1875-1917)

Another cast dated 1901 was sold in these rooms on 9 July, 1997 as lot 112.

Charles van Wijk (1875-1917) was born in The Hague. His father Hendrik owned a well-known copper foundry where Van Wijk learned to model, cissel and cast. At the age of fourteen the Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten in The Hague admitted him and there he studied under Eugène Lacomblé (1828-1905) until 1892. Van Wijk's style can be compared with those of the painters of the The Hague School. He was so successful that he could live from his own work and therefor he was able to develop himself, unlike many of his contemporaries who depended on commissions. Van Wijk was awarded various medals, amongst which a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1900. On 17 April 1917 H.M. The Queen Mother (Emma) unveiled the Van 't Hoff monument by van Wijk at the 's-Gravendijkwal in Rotterdam. This monument can be regarded as the most important commission of the many he received. (H. Stork, Charles van Wijk (1875-1917), Beeldhouwer van een vrij en ongebonden volk, Katwijk (Katwijks Museum), 1999)