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Lucebert: Catalogue of the 4 Most Famous Paintings
Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 4 works by Lucebert in our catalogue
Summary
Hermit (1962) is recorded as the most famous painting of Lucebert; it is held by the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, Antwerp. De Inquisiteur (1991) and Sfinx occupy the second and third entries. Of the 4 works by Lucebert recorded in the catalogue, the 4 best known are listed below, each entry with its date, the holding museum and a note on the work.
1924 – 1994, Amsterdam
Most works: Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp
Entries 1 to 10: the most famous Lucebert paintings
Lucebert: holding museums
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Lucebert | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp |
Antwerp | 1 | Hermit |
Year index: the principal Lucebert paintings
Lucebert: dated works from 1962 to 1991, 30 years in all, indexed year by year with the principal paintings of each.
Works per year
Select a year to display its principal paintings.
Questions frequently consulted on Lucebert's paintings
What is the best-known work of Lucebert?Display the answer
Hermit (1962), Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, Antwerp. The following entries are De Inquisiteur (1991) and Sfinx.
How old was Lucebert in the year of Hermit?Display the answer
38 years: Lucebert was born in 1924 and Hermit is dated 1962.
How many works by Lucebert does the catalogue record?Display the answer
The catalogue records 4 works by Lucebert, dated between 1962 and 1991.
Where are the principal works of Lucebert held?Display the answer
Principally in Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (Antwerp). The museum table above gives the full distribution.
What are the earliest and latest best-known works by Lucebert?Display the answer
The earliest dated work listed here is Hermit (1962); the latest is De Inquisiteur (1991).
Biography of Lucebert
The Life and Versatility of Lucebert
Lucebert, born Lubertus Jacobus Swaanswijk, was a multifaceted Dutch artist whose creative output spanned poetry, painting, lithography, and various other visual disciplines including ceramics, watercolor, and mural painting. Born in Amsterdam, he began his artistic journey by working for his father after school and later attended the Institute for Arts and Crafts. His early years were marked by a period of homelessness between 1938 and 1947. During this time, he provided a large mural for a Franciscan convent, though the work was ultimately painted over with white paint by the nuns.
As a central figure in the COBRA movement, he participated in the group's first exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in 1949. His literary contributions were significant, particularly within the Dutch movement known as De Vijftigers. His poetic legacy is encapsulated in collections such as Gedichten 1948–1965, and he was honored with several prestigious awards, including the P.C. Hooftprijs and the Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren.
Artistic Evolution and Spanish Connection
From the 1960s onward, Lucebert's work transitioned toward a figurative-expressionist style. Seeking the Mediterranean light, he and his wife, Tony Swaanswijk, moved to Altea, Spain, in 1963, eventually settling in Jávea in 1968. In 1973, they acquired a house in the Lluca district of Jávea that served as his studio and a vital site for his creative production.
His relationship with the artist and collector Antonio Pérez led to a permanent exhibition of his work in Cuenca, Spain. Following his death in Alkmaar, his widow donated works to the Antonio Pérez Foundation, which maintains a room dedicated to his legacy. His diverse body of work is held in various public collections, including the Museum de Fundatie in Zwolle and the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.