His landscape paintings, most of which depict Biblical scenes, are centuries-old. And our museum has a beautiful copy of one of his works: Het offer van Abraham (Abraham’s sacrifice). This artist is Lucas Gassel van Helmond, a sixteenth-century master of landscape painting. You will find his painting, along with some more works, in the special Lucas Gasseltoren tower in the castle’s Van Cortenbachzaal room.

Het offer van Abraham, Lucas Gassel, after restauration in 2020

The exhibition ‘De werkplaats van Lucas Gassel’ (Lucas Gassel’s workshop) is in a room a few doors down on the same floor.  From 22 December 2023 to 27 October 2024 inclusive, this is the place to discover lots of things about Gassel’s work. For example, did you know that he painted all his work on wood and stored his paint in mussel shells? The workshop is a fun and educational place for families with children aged 8 and above.

The workshop

In Gassel’s day, most artists produced their work in a workshop. Small or large, the workshop was a place where apprentices, assistants, and temporary workers met. Unfortunately, we know nothing about the people who worked at Lucas Gassel’s workshop and what kind of paintings they made. In our workshop in the castle, you can listen to and watch the stories behind the paintings. And you can also help to restore the paintings! You will discover how Lucas Gassel used backdrops to add depth to his painting. Feel free to get hands-on and make your own painting with light. Finished? Congratulations! You’ve have earned the title of master painter!

Learn more about the paintings of Lucas Gassel by doing!

Lucas and the castle

Lucas Gassel was born in Deurne in 1488, the son of painter Jan Gassel. He moved with the family to Helmond as a young boy, which is why he is also known as ‘Lucas Gassel van Helmond’ (‘van Helmond’ means ‘from Helmond’ in Dutch). In Helmond, Lucas learned the basics of painting from his father. The Gassels lived on the side of Markt square near the castle. The medieval moated castle and the small city of Helmond were then part of the Duchy of Brabant. The lords of Helmond had close links with the Brussels court. This is where Lucas spent the last years of his life in Brussels, passing away in 1568/89.

The ‘head’ of a young Lucas Gassel, previous shown in our Arthall in 2020 during the great exhibition showing all of his works from all over the world.

Lucas Gassel: a master painter!

A visit to Lucas Gassel’s workshop is also highly recommended for pupils aged 8 to 12 years old. In the primary school project ‘Lucas Gassel een echte meester!’ (Lucas Gassel, a master painter!), you can listen to the stories behind Lucas Gassel’s paintings or stores from his workshop. The workshop in the castle lets you examine the paintings by doing four ‘tests of a master’ – just as the painting apprentices did in Lucas Gassel’s time.

It’s great fun to color a work of Lucas Gassel