Landscape With Gentleman On Horseback And Peasant Woman Receiving Alms

Workshop / Circle of Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668) 

Landscape with Gentleman on Horseback and Peasant Woman Receiving Alms

oil on oak panel 
12.40 x 14.17 inches (31.5 x 36 cm)
with frame 18.50 x 20.86 inches (47 x 53 cm)

Expertise: We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Birgit Schumacher for her important research on this painting based on digital images.

Provenance: 
Christie's sale 563 DL (stencil on the back);
Ernst Muzeum Sale no 658 (Museum located in Budapest);
Bukowskis Auctions, 1 June 2006, lot 1303, (sold as by Philips Wouwerman), sold for 26.460€ (including buyers premium)

Condition: 
Recently restored by our art conservator in Stockholm. 
The colors are bright and clear and the panel is flat and stable.
"It is a fine work in good condition" (BS).

Essay: 
This painting that we are selling is a beautiful work of art from the inner circle of Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668), who is widely regarded as one of the most talented horse painters in the history of art. The painting is titled "Landscape with Gentleman on Horseback and Peasant Woman Receiving Alms".
In the background, we see a heavily loaded pack donkey and a resting man with heavy luggage. A dog is also present, adding to the lively and dynamic atmosphere of the painting.

The artwork exudes a sense of calm and serenity, capturing a moment of kindness and generosity between two individuals from different social classes. The composition is carefully balanced, with each element placed in a harmonious relationship with the others. The painting has been examined by Dr. Birgit Schumacher, an expert on Philips Wouwerman, who has confirmed that it is of high quality and painted in the 17th century in his Workshop or inner Circle. The painting follows one of his autograph works, with the same motif, who is catalogued as A379 in her Catalogue Raisonné.

Philips Wouwerman was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his remarkable skill in depicting horses, landscapes, and hunting scenes. He was born in Haarlem, the son of a painter, and started his artistic career in his father's studio. Wouwerman's work gained popularity during his lifetime, and he was highly sought after by collectors and patrons from across Europe. His paintings are characterized by their exquisite attention to detail, vibrant colors, and skillful handling of light and shadow.