Simon Johannes Van Douw (antwerp 1630 - 1677), Stop By A Knight

Simon Johannes van Douw (Antwerp c. 1630 - c. 1677) - follower of
The stop of a traveler on horseback near a post station

Oil painting on canvas
45 x 55 cm - In frame cm. 55 x 65

Details of the artwork: https://www.antichitacastelbarco.it/it/prodotto/simon-van-douw--seguace-cavaliere-a-riposo

In this pleasant painting, depicting a knight parked near a post station, the Flemish tradition is based on a strong Italianizing sensitivity, especially by observing the setting and its peculiar brightness.

The mixture of genres and the particular style of execution make it easy to trace the authorship back to a Nordic author but active in Rome, or strongly influenced by the style in vogue in the Eternal city, between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: we are referring, in in particular, to a follower of the Antwerp Simon Johannes van Douw.

The chromatic elegance and refinement with which he outlines the figures are typical aspects of his painting.

The scene takes place outside a cottage, probably a post office for travelers, where a modest family divides the tasks by assisting the knights. We see a young boy who hands water to the horse before he sets off again, the father is preparing to feed him with straw and the mother who instead takes care of the little son.

The Italian reminiscences, evident in our painting, have been absorbed by many Northern European authors such as Nicolaes Berchem, Philips Wouwerman or Johannes Lingelbach, all inspired by the leader Pieter van Laer, documented in Rome from 1625 to 1639 and considered the founder of the current of bamboccianti.

It is not known if Simon Van Douw visited our Peninsula: the few certain biographical data indicate that in 1655 and 1656 he was documented as an independent teacher in Antwerp, where he probably spent most of his life and with him Carel de Fonteyn was trained and Pieter van Bloemen. However, a trip to Italy cannot be excluded, even if there were not a few graphic examples or paintings that the artists could access and be inspired by, just think of Philips Wouwerman who owned countless drawings by van Laer.

The painting, in excellent condition, has a professionally executed relining.

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