"environs De Modave" By F. Van Roy, 1886

Title: Environs de ModaveArtist: François Van Roy (active in Belgium, 19th century)Date: 1886Medium: Oil on canvasDimensions: 100 × 125 cm (unframed) – 138 × 162 cm (framed)Provenance: BelgiumThis monumental landscape depicts an idyllic scene near Modave, in the province of Liège. In the foreground, a calm river winds between lush riparian vegetation where ducks swim peacefully. On the left, a herd of cows, accompanied by a figure, walks along a country path leading to a small wooden bridge. The background is dominated by majestic trees and gently rolling hills, bathed in subdued light. Dynamic cloud formations add depth and atmosphere to the composition. The refined brushstroke, subtle palette, and balanced composition are characteristic of late 19th-century Belgian landscape painting. The work is signed and dated lower right: F. Van Roy, 1886. An original label on the reverse bears the inscription Environs de Modave (Belgique) and is addressed to Monsieur François Van Roy, Brussels. The original sale price, set at 1,200 Belgian francs in 1886, is equivalent to approximately €21,000 in today's value, underlining the considerable esteem in which this work was held at the time. The painting is presented in a richly profiled and gilded frame, which reinforces its monumental character and visual impact.