New Van Dyck in Madrid?
August 30 2022
Picture: Twitter
I learn via Twitter of what appears to be a previously unknown painting by Van Dyck, which has recently been given an export ban by the Spanish government. We've only got the above photo to go on, but this Adoration of the Kings does look close to the series of very early religious pictures by Van Dyck usually dated to around 1615 (including indeed this Adoration of the Shepherds in the Courtauld). You'll notice some of the same models and Rubensian motifs, as well as the curiously small Christ child. It would date from just before the period of Van Dyck's almost miraculous emergence into fully formed artist before his 18th birthday. You can read the export documents here.
