Attributed To Pieter Van Bloemen - Country Scene With Horses And Squires

Attributed to Pieter van Bloemen - Country scene with horses and squires

Oil on canvas attributed to Pieter van Bloemen (Antwerp, 1657-1720), depicting an animated country scene of horses and squires sitting on a porch.

This composition perfectly illustrates the pictorial universe of Pieter Van Bloemen, a Flemish painter renowned for his rural scenes populated by horses, riders, travelers and animals integrated into Italian-inspired landscapes.

The painting presents a lively, natural atmosphere where figures and animals harmoniously occupy the foreground, in a construction typical of the artist. The horses, which are particularly well cared for, testify to Van Bloemen's abiding interest in the animal world, which became a veritable subject of study for him.

The work seems to have been executed at a period close to his famous Maréchal-ferrant, preserved in the Antwerp museum, both in composition and in the treatment of figures and animals.

In 1688, Pieter van Bloemen stayed in Rome with his brother Jan Frans Van Bloemen and joined the Bentvueghels, a circle of Flemish artists based in Italy. He then traveled to Naples, Sicily and Malta, developing a style blending Flemish tradition and Italian influences.

In contrast to his brother Jan Frans, who focused more on classical landscapes, Pieter favored countryside scenes and everyday activities: horses drinking, travelers in inns, markets or rural workers. This lively, narrative approach is what makes his work so charming.

Dimensions:
42 x 28 cm