Jean Baptiste Discart (1855-1940) Orientalist paintings and Dutch portraits

In brief

During the early decades of the twentieth century, Austrian-French painter Jean Baptiste Discart (1855–1940), whohas unjustly remained unknown, worked in The Hague. He painted several portrait series on behalf of prominent, mostly noble Dutch families. Most of these portraits have been preserved only in private collections. The members of these families were related through marriage, and a number of them held positions at the Dutch royal court. Discart remained in touch with these families over the years. This book includes brief biographies of those portrayed as well as photographs and portraits made by earlier or later painters when available. Compared to the latter, Discart’s work stands out for its sense of modesty and austerity.

Discart’s career started in Paris and Tangier with orientalist paintings. These
depict everyday life in Morocco, including the practices, trades and traditions
of the local population. Discart’s orientalist paintings are characterised by
realistic representations, a uniform effect of light, great composition and excellent use of colour. Because he was born in Modena, which belonged to Austria
at the time, and received his education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna,
Discart is considered a part of the Austrian Orientalist school, along with his
fellow students Ludwig Deutsch and Rudolf Ernst. Discart continued to refine
his own portrait painting techniques while still adhering to this school.

This book consists of a biography and a discussion of 40 works from his first
period and 61 Dutch portraits, followed by a full-colour catalogue. With this
work, the oeuvre of a largely forgotten painter has been brought back to life.

Theo Kralt (Rijnsburg, 1959) studied law and public administration, economics and international relations. Next to his work for the Dutch government and
civil society organisations, he has published on Wielbergen House and the
Brantsen family, the churches of Utrecht’s inner city and the Domkerk restoration.

Related articles and publications

3 januari 2021 – Boek over vergeten schilder Discart die Utrechtse families portretteerde (RTV UTRECHT)

23 december 2020 – Schilder Jean Baptiste Discart herontdekt, De Wassenaarse Krant en Groot Voorschoten

December 2020 – Vermelding boek Discart in London School of Economics Alumni books

December 2020 – Vermelding boek Discart in Goodenough College

December 2020 – Vermelding boek in COLLECT, Kunst Antiek Design, 2020 nr 8

26 november 2020 – Schilder Discart herontdekt (De Haagse Tijden)

19 november 2020 – Discart nagespoord en herontdekt

11 oktober 2020 – Vergeten schilder Jean Baptiste Discart komt weer tot leven

7 oktober 2020 – Vermelding boek op NIMAR, Rabat

7 oktober 2020 – Bijzonder graf familie Stokhuyzen-de Jong op Begraafplaats Groene Kerk

30 september 2020 – Artikel over het boek in de Oestgeester Courant

1 september 2020 – Artikel over het boek op website Adel in Nederland (AIN)

24 september 2020 – Schilder J.B. Discart herontdekt!

24 september – Discart geëerd met boek

28 August 2019 – Lecture: “Discart in Tangiers”

• 
  Opening exhibition Considerable portraits. Adolf Pirsch (1858–1929) in the Netherlands and book presentation
• Auction The Orientalist Sale
• Briljantjes: Interview Theo Kralt over J.B. Discart
• Jean Baptiste Discart 
• Boek over vergeten schilder Discart die Utrechtse families portretteerde

Downloads

Relevant websites

• Wikipedia (English)

Some portraits and paintings from the book