Portrait of Josephus Speelman, canon of the Augustinian monastery in Eversam.

Oil on canvas, 65 x 81 cm (needs cleaning and restoration).

Mounted in a wood frame (traces of use).

Portrait of the priest Speelman (Kortrijk 1746-1828), son of the Ghent alderman Joannes Speelman and Dorothea Godschalck. The indication of his age "AE.35." enables us to date this painting about 1781. The Abbey of Eversam in the village of Stavele (Westhoek, West Flanders) was founded in 1091 alongside the river Yser and was, after an agitated history, destroyed during the French Revolution. The tower we see on the background is most probably the church tower of the abbey.