Simon Kick (1603-1652)

Book excerpt: This book is the first complete study of the life and work of the 17th-century Dutch painter Simon Kick (1603-1652). Kick was active in Amsterdam, the largest and busiest city of the Netherlands, alongside Rembrandt. Simon Kick began painting only at the age of 32, driven to do so only due to the tragic death of his brother-in-law and since the economic situation necessitated it. Nevertheless, he was an excellent painter who focused on painting portraits, histories, and, above all, genre topics. He was one of only ten 17th-century Dutch painters to practice the unique genre formula of the guardroom scene. His guardroom scenes stand out as being more gentrified than others due to the fact that he assimilated in them the elegance of contemporary civic-guard portraits. His figures are particularly striking since they are well-characterized, often depicted in a contemplative mood, and imbued with a strong psychological presence. The fact that he started his career late and passed away at an early age robbed us of a great painter. The book includes a biography of the painter, as well as a systematic and comparative iconographical and stylistic study of his work, with an attached critical oeuvre catalogue. As such, it provides an important tool for both art enthusiasts and collectors, as well as art professionals such as students, scholars, auctioneers, and art dealers.