Jan Wildens (attr.) - Large Flemish Landscape From The 17th

Huge 17th century Flemish old master painting depicting a peaceful countryside scenery at sunset attributed to Jan Wildens and workshop

This lovely painting invites you to travel back to the 17th century, into the peaceful Flemish countryside. The colours of the setting sun, colour the sky in shades of pink and gold, whilst the foreground is filled with people and animals. The longer one looks, the more details and small stories one discovers.

Jan Wildens (1586-1653) was a prominent Flemish Baroque painter, renowned for his detailed and vivid landscape paintings. Born in Antwerp, Wildens began his artistic training under the tutelage of Pieter Verhulst. This early education set the stage for Wildens to develop his distinctive style, characterized by meticulous attention to detail and a deep appreciation for the natural world.

Wildens' career flourished during a period when the Baroque style was predominant in Europe, particularly in the Spanish Netherlands (modern-day Belgium). This style was known for its dramatic use of color, light, and shadow, and for its emphasis on realism and emotional depth. Wildens' landscapes were celebrated for their lifelike quality and their ability to evoke the natural beauty of the Flemish countryside.

One of the most notable aspects of Wildens' work was his collaboration with other prominent artists of his time. Most famously, he worked closely with Peter Paul Rubens, one of the leading figures of the Baroque movement. In these collaborations, Wildens often painted the landscapes and natural settings, while Rubens added the human figures and other elements. This partnership was highly successful and resulted in some of the period's most admired artworks, blending Wildens' mastery of natural scenery with Rubens' dynamic figures and compositions.

Wildens' landscapes are often characterized by their vibrant use of color and their detailed portrayal of nature. He had a remarkable ability to capture the essence of various natural elements, from the texture of trees and foliage to the play of light on water. His scenes frequently included animals and rural life, adding a dynamic and lively element to his compositions. These details not only showcased his technical skill but also his deep observation and understanding of the natural world.

In addition to his collaborative works, Wildens produced numerous individual pieces that were highly regarded in their own right. His paintings often featured idyllic rural scenes, of which our painting is a beautiful example, with rolling hills, lush forests, and expansive skies. These works conveyed a sense of tranquility and beauty, reflecting the pastoral landscapes of Flanders. Wildens' ability to convey the atmosphere and mood of a scene made his work stand out among his contemporaries.

Dimensions:
The oil on canvas measures ca. 121 cms by 111 cms and with its custom-made contemporary frame ca. 142 by 131 cms.

Selected literature on the artist:
1.  "The Paintings of Jan Wildens" by Hans Vlieghe
2. "Rubens and His Legacy" by Tim Barringer et al.
3. "The World of Rubens, 1577-1640" by S.J. Barnes, Nora De Poorter et al.
4. "The Flemish Baroque: Rubens, Van Dyck, Jordaens" edited by Frans Baudouin
5. "Dutch and Flemish Painting" by Jakob Rosenberg, Seymour Slive, and E.H. ter Kuile

Some museums that have works by Jan Wildens:

1. Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA) - Antwerp, Belgium
2. The Prado Museum - Madrid, Spain
3. The National Gallery - London, United Kingdom
4. The Louvre - Paris, France

Provenance: private collection Belgium