Two men hawking in an extensive landscape

Landscapes populated by falconers on horseback were a theme that Wouwerman treated regularly throughout his productive career. Given the fact that less than a dozen paintings are dated, establishing a chronology for the artist is extremely difficult (see F. Duparc, 'Philips Wouwerman 1619-1668', Oud Holland, 107, 1993, pp. 257-86). According to Duparc (loc. cit.), this particular configuration of monogram was not used before 1646. However, a comparatively early dating for the present panel, circa 1650, is hinted at by the heavy shadows, strong colours and light touch that characterised his output from this period. At around the same time, his pictures reflect a growing interest in landscape and this work demonstrates his mastery of that subject as much as of his painting of horses for which he is best known. In this respect, the present panel is closely comparable with a picture dated 1652, in a private collection (see W. Stechow, Dutch Landscape Painting of the Seventeenth Century, London, 1966, no. 41).

A signed repetition of this picture, of identical dimensions, is in the Glasgow Art Gallery (no. 626). The present work appears to be the prime version.