Self-Portrait, seated at a desk

Petrus van Schendel was a Dutch painter known for his nocturnal scenes and candlelit interiors rendered with meticulous attention to light and shadow. Active in the 19th century, he specialized in genre paintings that captured domestic moments illuminated by artificial light sources, a technical and thematic focus that distinguished his work within European academic painting. His compositions demonstrate a sustained interest in the optical effects of candlelight on fabric, skin, and architectural detail.

Terheyden