Gillis Van Tillborch II - The Departure Of The Hunt

Fine 17th century Flemish Old Master oil "A gentleman sounding the call for the hunt" attributed to Gillis Van Tillborgh II (also known as Gillis Van Tilburg II)

The present painting has been painted with very swift and confident brushstrokes, revealing the hand of a highly accomplished painter. This intricate play of brushwork and colours has survived the centuries remarkably well. The focal point of the composition is an elegantly dressed gentleman holding a large horn, which was typically used during luxurious hunting parties. To the left, we can see a young boy next to a hunting hound, the eyes of the dog wonderfully reflect his ferocity and eagerness to depart.

Gillis van Tilborgh (c. 1625–c. 1678) was a Flemish painter known for his masterful depictions of genre scenes, group portraits, and gallery interiors. His work stands out for its remarkable psychological depth, capturing the subtleties of human interaction with an intimacy that sets him apart from many of his contemporaries. His figures are not mere decorative elements within a composition but fully realized individuals, their expressions and gestures imbued with a quiet realism that invites the viewer into their world. Van Tilborgh trained in Brussels, likely under his father, and later came under the influence of David Teniers the Younger. His genre scenes, often portraying the lives of peasants and the bourgeoisie, reveal an acute awareness of social dynamics. Whether depicting a lively tavern gathering or an elegant company in a grand interior, his ability to convey atmosphere and emotion gives his paintings a narrative richness. His talent for capturing psychological nuance is especially evident in his group portraits, such as The Tichborne Dole (c. 1670), painted during a period when he traveled to England. In this work, as in many others, Van Tilborgh’s figures seem engaged in complex, unstated dialogues, their expressions hinting at relationships, social hierarchies and unspoken dynamics. This understanding of human interactions, combined with his meticulous rendering of textures and details, create compositions that feel both immediate and timeless. Van Tilborgh also excelled in the popular genre of gallery paintings, where he depicted opulent interiors filled with artworks and collectors. These works serve as valuable records of 17th-century artistic taste while also offering a deeper reflection on the act of looking, both at art and at one another. His works are held in major museum collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, and the Royal Fine Arts Museum in Brussels.

Dimensions:
Oil on panel ca. 22.5 by 18.5 cms, with frame ca. 40 by 34 cms

Provenance:
Private collection France as Gillis van Tillborgh

On the reverse there is also a very old inscription “Tillborgh”