[MR] History Blog: Lovers' Paintings Reunited after 150 Years

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

I almost forgot this really sweet story from the History Blog.

In the 1530s, Bartholomaus Bruyn was the leading portrait painter in
Cologne. He was known for painting diptychs, showing couples. One such
couple, Jakob Omphalius and his intended Elisabeth Bellinghausen, posed for
one of these double portraits. Eventually they had a long marriage, and
produced 13 children.

Sadly, at some point after their deaths the paintings were separated. After
years of detective work, both panels were identified. Recently
the portraits have been reunited and Jakob and Elisabeth are now displayed
side-by-side in The Hague's Mauritshaus Museum.

Here is the whole History Blog story:
http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/59006 .

A brief bio and some Bruyn's other works are found at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barthel_Bruyn_the_Elder .

Yours Aye,

Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆