Art, Myth & Old Masters · 20th century
€ 990
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Excellent condition overall, with sharp black ink and minimal age toning. Mounted on acid-free board and ready for framing.
Original Illustration “Roman Judgment Scene” by Charles Burki, 1973 – Pen and Ink Drawing
Detailed original pen and ink illustration by Charles Burki (1909–1994), signed and dated “Charles Burki ’73” at the lower left. This highly accomplished work depicts a dramatic Roman court or tribunal scene, rendered with Burki’s signature architectural precision and mastery of composition.
A commanding Roman official, seated and draped in an ornate toga, gestures toward two central figures — a young man and woman — as soldiers and attendants look on. The setting, with its marble floor tiles, carved furniture, and disciplined arrangement of guards, evokes the grandeur and authority of ancient Rome. The use of line and cross-hatching is extraordinary: Burki’s steady hand and architectural training are evident in every fold of fabric, engraved pattern, and perspective line.
Charles Burki was a Dutch artist of exceptional range and technique, born in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) in 1909. Trained as an architect, he later became a professional illustrator and painter. His background in architecture shaped his disciplined approach to drawing — a clarity and sense of spatial control that distinguished his illustrations for Dutch magazines such as Elsevier, Panorama, and De Haagse Post.
Burki’s life was profoundly marked by his experiences during World War II. When Japan invaded the Dutch East Indies, he was captured and interned in Japanese prison camps, enduring years of forced labor under brutal conditions. He survived two near-death experiences that few could imagine: first, when the Japanese transport ship carrying prisoners was torpedoed and sunk; and later, while interned near Nagasaki, he survived the atomic bombing in 1945. These experiences deeply influenced his later work, lending it both human sensitivity and moral gravity.
After the war, Burki returned to the Netherlands and built a celebrated career as an illustrator. From the 1950s through the 1970s, his art frequently appeared in historical publications, often illustrating episodes from antiquity, warfare, exploration, and human achievement. His style was characterized by absolute technical precision, careful research, and a dramatic yet restrained narrative quality.
This 1973 drawing exemplifies Burki’s mature period: confident, cinematic, and historically exact. The balance of drama and discipline captures his dual nature as both survivor and craftsman — an artist who rebuilt a life and career through mastery of line and form.
Condition report: Excellent condition overall, with sharp black ink and minimal age toning. Mounted on acid-free board and ready for framing.
Framing tips: Best displayed in a black or dark walnut frame with a white or light cream mat to enhance the contrast of the inkwork and emphasize its classical drama.
Technique: Pen and ink on paper
Maker: Charles Burki, The Netherlands, 1973
