Martin Pepin (Or Pepyn)
Martin Pepin (Or Pepyn) [1]
a Flemish painter, was born at Antwerp in 1574, as appears from an inscription on his portrait hereafter mentioned. It is not known under whom he studied at home. After having learned the principles of the art, he went to Italy, where he is said to have so distinguished himself by his grandeur of composition, correctness of design, and vigorous tone of coloring, that Rubens himself regarded Pepin with jealousy, and dreaded his return to Antwerp, fearing his reputation would suffer: from such rivalship. Pepin, however, did not interfere with Rubens, for he resided most of his life at Rome. In Italy Pepin failed to secure much fame. In the church of the hospital at Antwerp are two of his works, which are highly extolled; they are altarpieces, with folding doors, in the style of some of the old Flemish masters; the center picture of one represents the Baptism of St. Augustine, and the laterals on the doors that saint giving alms to the poor and curing the sick; the other is a similar work, representing St. Elizabeth giving Alms to a group of miserable objects who are struggling to approach her. His portrait, by Vandyck, in the private collection of the king of Holland, is described by C. J. Niewvenhuyt (in his Catalogue), who saw several of Pepin's pictures, and says that his talents were but second rate, that his first manner partook of the school of Otho Venius, but that the works he executed in Italy are in a more elevated style. Pepin died at Rome in 1641.
