Hendrick de Somer (1606–1656) Lot n° 8

Hendrick de Somer (not to be confused with Hendrick van Someren) came to Naples in 1622 and became a student of Jusepe de Ribera (1591–1652). Last mentioned in 1656 on the occasion of his daughter's marriage, he probably died of the plague in Naples in 1656. Hendrick de Somer took up the style of his teacher but gave up the Spaniard's emotional glow and preferred a more sober realism. The church father Hieronymus created the authoritative Latin version of the Bible, he translated the Old Testament partly from Greek, but according to his statement also from Hebrew. He was one of the few non-Jewish scholars who knew Hebrew at the time. In the 17th century it was often shown reading the Hebrew Bible. In this picture, however, the artist apparently shows him writing in Hebrew. Sitting in the cave as a hermit, he turns his head to the light that symbolizes divine inspiration. Hendrick de Somer has successfully captured the moment of mental inspiration in the suddenly turning head and facial expression. 114 × 84 cm Oil on canvas