David I Ryckaert: A late sixteenth-century stoffeerder. Presented at the Medieval-Renaissance Conference XV. The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, 20 – 22 September 2001.

Abstract

Until today, David I Ryckaert (Antwerp, 15602 - 1607, Antwerp) has been considered the patriarch of three generations of painters living and working in Antwerp. Except for Manteuffel3, most authors4 agree that he was the first painter in the Ryckaert lineage. I have come to the conclusion that David I Ryckaert was not a painter of pictures — in the context of this paper, the term painter is used to designate one who paints pictures, unless indicated otherwise — but that he was a decorator of woodwork and sculptures. I would like to offer an explanation for my point of view, based on a re-examination of the meaning of the term stoffeerder current at the time of Ryckaert's registration which differs from the modern meaning of the term "staffage". To enhance the credibility of my proposition, I will demonstrate the doubtfulness of some alleged attributions of paintings to David I Ryckaert.