Craftsmen before a house

Teniers' genre scenes, such as this one, were highly sought after in his native city of Antwerp during his lifetime. Here, bricklayers busy themselves at their work in front of a house in a state of disrepair. The soft palette of sandy brown, muted brick red and the light blue sky is punctuated by the figures in their bright blue, red, and creamy white clothes. Characteristic of Teniers' work, the landscape is given prominence in the composition, and the scene elevates the workers' mundane task, imbuing it with dignity.

Teniers' rapid ascension to fame brought various prominent positions and commissions, and by 1647 he received the patronage of Archduke Leopold William, Governor of the Southern Netherlands. In 1651, Archduke Leopold appointed Teniers the prestigious title of court painter, and Teniers left Antwerp for Brussels.