The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Amsterdam.

TETAR VAN ELVEN, JAN BAPTISTE

Dutch, 1805-79

Oil on panel. Signed by artist lower right. Framed

Benezit, Vol. 8, p.262

An evocative view of the interior of the Synagogue with worshippers at prayer. Distinct are the wooden Ark which dominates the background, as well as other architectural elements such as the recognizable high-volted ceiling and the brass hanging candelabra Jan Baptiste Tetar van Elven belonged to a prominent family of painters whose reportoire ranged from landscapes, genre scenes and orientalist views. It is possible that Jan Baptiste was inspired to paint Jewish subjects by contemporaries such as the Verveers, who painted views of Jewish Amsterdam. For a simialr synagogue interior by Tetar van Elven, see Sotheby’s New York, Judaica, 16th March 1999, Lot 209