Belgium Painting of Belgian Captain

[Jef]

Hello,

A close friend of mine bought this painting some time ago. The date on the painting is 1923. But our Captain is wearing a Fire Cross which was instituted in 1934! What's going on. Anyone has some ideas? I have been looking in different books " Guldenboek der Vuurkaart" to know his name, but was unable to trace him. Are there other ways to find out who he was.

Jef

[attachmentid=52604]

[Jef]

And a detail from the painting. Someone told me the painter was an artist from Antwerp.

kind regards,

Jef

[attachmentid=52606]

[Hendrik]

Someone told me the painter was an artist from Antwerp.

Jef,

I believe he was from Doornik (born and died there ... 1902-1971) and do think there's something odd about the picture :

first there's the Fire Cross as you pointed out but what about the top row of medals ? Doesn't the good captain appear to be very young to have all those long service awards ? Even counting double the war years, he couldn't still be a captain with all those awards, could he ?

Just an idea : original picture from 1923 and painted over with the new medals in the 1930's ??? Maybe your friend can check the original with that in mind ...

Cheers,

Hendrik

[Jef]

Jef,

I believe he was from Doornik (born and died there ... 1902-1971) and do think there's something odd about the picture :

first there's the Fire Cross as you pointed out but what about the top row of medals ? Doesn't the good captain appear to be very young to have all those long service awards ? Even counting double the war years, he couldn't still be a captain with all those awards, could he ?

Just an idea : original picture from 1923 and painted over with the new medals in the 1930's ??? Maybe your friend can check the original with that in mind ...

Cheers,

Hendrik

Hello Hendrik,

If you know the painter's birth and decease dates, you must be quite sure he was from Doornik.

About the painting: it's the only possebility the painting must have been painted over. I don't think my friend will remove the last coat to see what's under it.

Thank you for your answer.

Kind regards,

Jef

[Christophe]

Hello Hendrik,

If you know the painter's birth and decease dates, you must be quite sure he was from Doornik.

About the painting: it's the only possebility the painting must have been painted over. I don't think my friend will remove the last coat to see what's under it.

Thank you for your answer.

Kind regards,

Jef

Hi Jef,

Hendrik's option is a clever one. I think that with X-Rays (or others in the same style) you could check this.

Cheers.

Ch.

[Jef]

Hi Jef,

Hendrik's option is a clever one. I think that with X-Rays (or others in the same style) you could check this.

Cheers.

Ch.

Thank you Christophe,

I'll tell him. As a matter of fact, he was scanner operator ( X-Ray,etc...)in a hospital. He retired last year.

I remember he copied lots of old negative photograph's for me. Still have some X-Ray photographs from a pistol and other things which were found in the soil.

kind regards,

Jef

[Christophe]

Just check on the web. X-Rays can help to see "repentirs" (first attempst suppressed since) of painters.

Ch.