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拍品專文
This early work by Philips Wouwerman, the foremost Dutch painter of horses during the seventeenth century, shows the artist working at a pivotal moment in his career. Born in Haarlem, Wouwerman was initially apprenticed to Frans Hals. In 1639, Pieter van Laer, who had spent over a decade living and working in Rome, arrived in the city, constituting a highly significant moment of the painter’s early career. Wouwerman was greatly influenced by the artist and, indeed, according to Arnold Houbraken’s account of his life in De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen (1718-21), following van Laer’s death in circa 1641, acquired a large quantity of sketches from the painter’s workshop. This scene of Bandits attacking travellers certainly demonstrates the debt Wouwerman owed to van Laer early in his career, in the conception of the subject, the sculptural rendering of the horses and low horizon lines allowing the staffage to dominate the scene. At the same time, however, the picture also shows Wouwerman developing his own style and shows already his remarkable ability in depicting animals, and horses in particular.
The picture forms part of a group of similar works painted in around 1644. It can be closely related to the Attack on a Coach in the Liechtenstein collection. Both present a tumultuous assault on a wagon and travellers set within an open dune-landscape. Wouwerman probably composed the painting with the aid of preliminary drawings (the majority of which are now lost). Though never identical, figures and horses can often be recognised across several pictures. Thus, for example, the rearing horse to the left of the carriage, carrying the bandit who is about to draw his sword, can be found in the Liechtenstein Assault, as well as the near contemporary Battle Scene in the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
The picture forms part of a group of similar works painted in around 1644. It can be closely related to the Attack on a Coach in the Liechtenstein collection. Both present a tumultuous assault on a wagon and travellers set within an open dune-landscape. Wouwerman probably composed the painting with the aid of preliminary drawings (the majority of which are now lost). Though never identical, figures and horses can often be recognised across several pictures. Thus, for example, the rearing horse to the left of the carriage, carrying the bandit who is about to draw his sword, can be found in the Liechtenstein Assault, as well as the near contemporary Battle Scene in the National Gallery of Art in Washington.