Landscape With Figures

Follower of Pieter Jans Bout (Brussels, between 1645 and 1719)

Landscape with figures

Oil on board, cm 58,5 x 77

With frame cm 70 x 88

Pieter Jans Bout (Brussels, between 1640 and 1658 -1719) was one of the most prolific Flemish painters, illustrators and engravers, also requested by the painters of his time to complete the works as a figurist. The date of birth of this artist is uncertain: based on the few known facts it seems to have occurred between 1620 and 1645. It is believed that the period of activity of Bout begins in 1664, year of his first work dated while this can be considered concluded in 1719, year of his last work dated.

In 1671 he became a member of the Saint Luke’s Guild in Brussels. From about 1675 he spent three years in Paris, where he often collaborated with Adriaen Frans Boudewijns, inserting figures into his landscapes. Probably, in addition to France, he also visited Italy. His views fall within the tradition of Jan Brueghel the Younger, and also show similarities with the work of David Teniers the Younger and that of Brussels landscape painters such as Adriaen Frans Boudewyns, Lucas Achtschellinck and Jacques d'Arthois, for whom he also often painted the figures. He painted mainly genre scenes, landscapes, especially marine, views of cities, winter landscapes, ports and beaches, historical subjects and architecture.

In support of the attribution of this to a follower of Pieter Jans Bout, we observe the five views in private collections in which there is a similar compositional approach, with the derelict mansions on the sides and the background mountains that descend to the horizon. There is also a tendency for Pieter Bout to portray landscapes from a partially raised frontal position, unlike his colleague and collaborator Adriaen Frans Boudewijns (Brussels, 1644 - 1719), who preferred bird’s-eye views. The same treatment of the skies and clouds can also be observed, which is more linear than the jagged and wavy bottoms of Boudewijns.