A beautifully painted Italian genre scene of a woman with a baby sat next to a gentleman by Willem Johannes Martens. The woman, who wears a traditional 18th century Italian costume, can be seen holding a baby on her lap whilst an older man in finer clothing reaches out to hold the infant’s hand. Meanwhile, a small dog watches butterflies from the stone seat. The reverse bears a transcription with the title ‘Der Bewunderer’ (The Admirer). ‘Der Bewunderer’ was exhibited at the 1883 Glaspalast International exhibition in Munich and is listed in the catalogue as entry no. 1271, p223. It gives his city of residence at the time as being Rome. The work also appears amongst a list of Martens works in the book ‘Paintings of the nineteenth century - first volume’ by the art historian Friedrich von Boetticher, p.942, published 1891-1898.

Willem Johannes Martens was Dutch genre painter born on 14 August, 1838 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. His parents were Johan Martens and Alida Margaretha Brinkman and the family lived at Keizersgracht Street in Amsterdam. Although little is recorded about his education, he is known to have studied under the Dutch history painter Nicolaas Pieneman (1809-1860). After completing his artistic education he began working as an artist in Amsterdam.

He began exhibiting in his home city from the 1860’s and also in exhibited in The Hague, Arnhem and Rotterdam and Leeuwarden from 1859. He also exhibited in the Munich Glass Palace. Around 1871, he left Holland for Italy where he made his first visit to Rome, returning in 1874 and again in 1878 when he stayed for a number of years. During his long stay in Rome he became a member of the artists' association the Società Degli Amatori E Cultori Delle Belle Arti . Whilst there he began producing genre paintings of Italian life as well as scenes with figures in 17th and 18th century Italian costumes.

After returning from Italy to Amsterdam for the last time in 1887, he spent two further years in his home City before visiting The Hague in 1889. He made his final move to Berlin in 1892, where he spent the rest of his life. He died on 2 February, 1895 aged 55 years.

© Benton Fine Art