Page "Aelbert Cuyp" Paragraph 18

Although Aelbert Cuyp signed many of his paintings with a script “ A.

Cuyp ” insignia, many paintings were left unsigned ( not to mention undated ) after being painted, and so a similar signature was added later on, presumably by collectors who inherited / discovered the works.

Furthermore, many possible Cuyp paintings were not signed but rather initialed “ A.

C .” referring to his name.

However, Abraham van Calraet could also have used the same initials to denote a painting.

Although this is unlikely ( as Calraet would likely have signed his paintings “ A.

v. C .”), this brings up the question of how paintings were signed to show ownership.

Most original Cuyp paintings were signed by him, and in the script manner in which his name was inscribed.

This would denote that the painting was done almost entirely by him.

Conversely, paintings which came out of his workshop that were not necessarily physically worked on by Cuyp but merely overseen by him technically, were marked with A. C. to show that it was his instruction which saw the paintings ’ completion.

Cuyp ’ s pupils and assistants often worked on paintings in his studio, and so most of the work of a painting could be done without Cuyp ever touching the canvas, but merely approving its finality.

Hence, the initialed inscription rather than a signature.