"hunting Trip With Falconer" Signed By The Dutch Master Simon Van Douw (1630-1677)

Splendid genre scene signed by the Dutch master Symon Johannes Van Douw (1630-1677). The scene takes place in a rocky glade in which various subjects are depicted preparing to water their horses at a fountain with a clear reference to classicism. One of them is a falconer as you can guess from the falcon resting on his arm.
Probably the group goes out hunting given the presence of the many levies and Dalmatian dogs that accompany them and are typical of the composition of the Van Douw. In the background, a hilltop village that evokes a pure fascination for Italian landscapes, stands out against the beautiful clear blue sky.

There is little information on the history of the artist, considered an accredited master of the golden age of Dutch painting: he was a member of the Guild of San Luca in Antwerp from 1654 and in Middelburg from 1656. He had among others for pupils, Pieter van Bloemen and Nicolas de La Haye. The themes of his production consist mainly of battle scenes with horses and genre episodes, sometimes using models taken from engravings by other artists, such as Pieter van Laer. In some scenes, Roman landscapes and monuments are mentioned: an Italian journey by the artist is not documented; these are probably elements taken from graphic works, reworked by him.

Some curiosities about the signature: the signature shows the name Symon Van Douro which is one of the ways in which this artist signed (some examples of signatures are reported in the specialist encyclopedia Benezit). Analyzing the painter's catalog through the RKD archive, one can notice that full signatures are very rare, given that he used to abbreviate the name Symon with an "S". It is therefore plausible that the critics who recognized the painter with the name Simon did not refer to this signature reported in our painting, reporting in full the name Symon Van Douro (probably an Italianization of his surname).

The measures of the canvas 83 x 62; The frame on which it is mounted, about 6 cm in section, is old from the same period as the work.

We attach to the sale a certificate of authenticity provided by our antiques gallery.

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