Jan Baptist De Wael II (1632-1697), Follower Of - The Miser

Oil on panel. This early 18th-century Flemish panel is an interesting work, echoing an engraving by the renowned Jan Baptist de Wael. This engraving depicts a miser compulsively counting his riches. The portrayal of unpleasant characters, often tinged with morality or satire, is a recurring motif in the paintings of the 17th-century Lesser Masters. Jan Baptist de Wael was a Flemish painter and engraver whose life and career unfolded at the crossroads of major European artistic centers, bringing Flemish splendor to Italy and Spain. Born into a family of artists, he trained in Italy in the mid-19th century, primarily in Genoa under his uncle Cornelis de Wael, where he distinguished himself as an engraver with narrative series such as that of the Prodigal Son. Around 1682, his career took a decisive turn when he settled in Spain, specifically in Rincón de Soto, where he bequeathed his Assumption of Mary, proudly signed as a donation to the church. This work reveals a style directly influenced by the dynamism of Rubens and the exquisite palette of Van Dyck. This pictorial mastery, which makes him a worthy successor to the Flemish Baroque school, allowed him to join the court of Madrid in 1686. Despite subsequent financial difficulties, he served the Duke of Abrantes there, leaving his mark on late 17th-century Spanish art. - Image dimensions without frame: 20.5 x 26.5 cm / 42 x 48 cm with a magnificent custom-made Baroque-inspired frame.