Oil On Panel "circus Animals", Van Den Eycken Charles, Belgian School, 1887

Charming circus animal scene depicting a monkey and a dog. Both are in costume. Oil on panel signed and dated 1887. Old frame. Panel cleaned and revarnished by our restorer, frame regilded with leaf.

Size: H 24 cm – W 17cm / H 52 cm – W 46 cm

Belgian school

Lit: Animal painter and more specifically of domestic animals, Charles Van den Eycken was born in Brussels in 1859 into a family of artists. His grandfather was a decorative painter and his father a famous landscape painter in the style of the 17th century Dutch. He naturally became a pupil of his elders, then continued his studies at the Brussels academy under the direction of Joseph Stevens. Charles junior was quickly recognized for his pictorial representations of dogs and cats in interiors. He did not portray the animals, but on the contrary they were active participants. They are most often depicted in touching or playful situations, which give a lot of life to his works. Charles is also an active member of "L'Essor", an artistic circle founded in 1876 when realism became a unifying movement among many young artists. The motto of L'Essor was "A unique art, a unique life" and therefore emphasizes the link that must unite Art to Life. The founders are seen as progressive and rebel against academic conservatism. From 1881, he exhibited regularly at the salons of Brussels, Liège, Ghent, Antwerp but also in Holland, Germany and even Spain. He received many medals, much sought after, he carried out many commissions in particular for Queen Marie-Henriette of Belgium. Charles Van den Eycken is considered one of the most important artists of domestic animals of the 19th century. Works in the museums of Antwerp, Brussels, Ixelles and Kortrijk.