Gabriel (c.1604-1677) Or Adam (1638-1695) Perelle, Animated Landscape At The Castle

Pen and black ink on paperH. 10 ; l. 23 cm

"In addition to the exercise of engraving, Gabriel Pérelle the father, as well as his son, excelled at drawing landscapes with a pen, and we see their works made of this kind, which are no less finished than what they engraved."

MariettePierre, Abecedario, vol. IV, 101

Our drawing depicts a château with a central body evoking the spirit of the 17th century,surrounded by medieval-era fortifications and towers. It stands on a rocky outcrop surrounded by water, linked to the shore by a drawbridge.
Smoke billows from the terrace on the right, suggesting a battle.
Far off to the left, you can see the mountainous relief in front of which stands the silhouette of a town. Other buildings can also be made out, as well as another fortress in the background on the right.

Some figures, sketched silhouettes, delicately tapered, populate the scene. A seated man contemplates the landscape in the foreground, with a fisherman at his side, approaching the shore, while another takes the path leading to the castle. A small sailboat floats away from the fortress.

There are many elements typical of Pérelle's work here. First of all, the oblong format of the drawing, which is the one most often used, as well as the use of the feather to create a fine, elegant line. Last but not least, we note the presence of fine, regular hatching that enhances shadows and gives relief to landscape elements.

Prolific draftsmen, engravers and painters, Gabriel (c.1604-1677) and his sons Adam (1638-1695) and Nicolas Pérelle (1631-1695), are among the greatest masters of 17th-century French landscape art.
Gabriel and Adam specialized in lively, rural, lacustrine and maritime landscapes, land and naval battle scenes, views of palaces, fortresses and gardens, etc., always with great meticulousness and delicacy. While they produced many easily identifiable views of French and foreign monuments, others were the fruit of their imagination, borrowing elements of architecture and landscape to create whimsical compositions known as capricci. The drawings, rare on the market, were preparatory work for engraving.

The influence of Italian and French classicism, of Poussin and Le Lorrain, is omnipresent in the Pérelle's art, as are certain elements borrowed from the Netherlands. This combination gives their works a decorative elegance that anticipates the art of the 18th century, when the success of landscapes, cappricci and veduti, will be at its apogee, represented by artists such as Hubert Robert. The old attribution toIsrael Silvestre, is not without foundation. This contemporary and emulator of the Pérelle family drew and engraved many landscapes, castles and fortifications, in a style quite similar to theirs. As for the work of the father, Gabriel Pérelle, and his son, Adam, their drawings and engravings are very similar. The father's style, however, appears more delicate than that of his son and pupil, who is described as more robust.

Very good condition, mounted under matting. Bears an old inscription "IsraëlSilvestre" on the mount. Sold in a gilded wooden frame.