The Peacock in the Garden – Mathias Withoos and Rome

Like many of his colleagues, the painter Mathias Withoos joined the Bentvueghels during his stay in Rome around 1648–1653. His time there was to have a major impact on his career. Rome can be seen in his art in the landscapes, which he framed with abundant plant motifs. In his signature still-life paintings, undergrowth teeming with life is combined with elements from a sublime urban landscape. In his oeuvre he repeatedly returned to Roman and Italian influences.

The Bentvueghels group sprang up among Dutch and Flemish artists in Rome around 1620, and the community continued in existence for a century, until 1720. They were boisterous revellers who spent time in close-knit togetherness in their new city. The community had its own initiation rituals and members were given nicknames to match their characters and personal mannerisms.

But being in Rome was about more than just carousing. They took art making and artistic development seriously. The members of the Bentvueghels were especially keen on drawing and painting in the open air, and often travelled together out of Rome to the Tivoli Gardens. The artists wanted to learn from the Italian masters, and also sought out new views in the city. The group included, among others, Caspar van Wittel (1653–1736), Jan Both (1618–1652) and Cornelis van Poelenburgh (1594–1667), whose works are in this exhibition.

With the exhibition we celebrate the power of togetherness and the uniqueness of shared moments, as well as the importance of belonging to a group. The exhibition showcases the Bentvueghels artists’ group and, of its painters, especially the work of Mathias Withoos. There are paintings and rare drawings, mainly from Dutch museums and private collections, as well as prints from the Finnish National Gallery’s collection, from the 17th century. The exhibition has been curated by curator Salla Heino.