Tavern Scene Attributed To Matthieu Van Helmont (1623–1679), Oil On Copper, 17 × 22.5 Cm

This charming genre scene, painted on copper with great finesse, bears a clear resemblance to the work of Mattheus van Helmont, an Antwerp painter active in the mid-17th century, who specialised in scenes of everyday life inspired by the Flemish tradition of David Teniers the Younger and Adriaen Brouwer.

The composition depicts several figures gathered around a table in an inn. The expressive faces, the deliberately caricatured poses, the animated gestures and the attention paid to everyday objects all bear witness to a keen observation of everyday life. The artist skilfully employs lighting effects to make the figures stand out against a deliberately darkened background, a technique characteristic of Flemish painting of this period.

The copper panel allows for particularly precise execution and remarkable preservation of the colours. The glazes retain a beautiful transparency and the details – fabrics, faces, objects – are rendered with great delicacy

The attribution to Mattheus van Helmont is notably supported by comparison with several tavern scenes signed by the artist. The smoker seated in the foreground embodies a figure particularly characteristic of his repertoire: a loose-fitting white shirt forming a strong luminous mass, a soft cap, his head tilted towards a pipe held horizontally, and his arm bent sharply. A very similar figure appears in a painting sold in Madrid at Ansorena, Campesinos fumando en un mesón, which was previously held by Ansorena. The deliberately earthy facial features, the palette of brown earth tones enlivened by red and white, the dim interior, and the grouping of figures around barrels and a rustic table are also recurring features in Van Helmont’s work. View a photograph of this painting

As the artist also regularly worked on copper, both the medium and the meticulous execution of this painting are consistent with this attribution.

Mattheus van Helmont

sometimes referred to as van Hellemont (born in Antwerp in 1623, active in Brussels after 1679), is known for his genre scenes inspired by everyday life, particularly rural life. He began his career in his hometown before settling in Brussels around 1674. Trained in the tradition of the great Flemish masters such as Adriaen Brouwer, David Ryckaert III and David Teniers II, he gradually broke away from their influence to develop a personal style in his later years. Admitted as a master to the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp in 1645, he produced a prolific body of work, including tavern scenes, views of bustling villages, folk festivals, and depictions of alchemists and craftsmen.

His works are usually signed or bear a monogram. He passed on his artistic craft to his sons, Jan (born in 1650) and Gaspard (born in 1656), who also pursued careers as painters.

Public collections

• Milan, Poldi-Pezzoli Museum
• Stockholm, National Museum and Hallwylska Museet
• Copenhagen, S. M. f. K.
• Douai Museum
• Ghent Museum
• Budapest Museum

Comparable works at public auctions

Campesinos fumando en un meson

Lot No. 414 Oil on canvas 35 x 42 cm

Hammer price: €4,000 PINTURA Y ARTES DECORATIVAS 09/05/2013

Ansorena, Madrid, Spain
Reproduced on page 128 of the catalogue

Scena di osteria

Lot No. 34 Oil on copper 22.5 x 17 cm

Price including fees: €3,612

Capolavori da Collezione | A legacy from the Charlemagne Foundation in support of the Periferiacapitale programme: École de Paris, 20th-century avant-garde and Old Masters

21/10/2025 Arcadia Auction House S.r.l., Rome RM, Italy Details: signed lower left

Provenance: Filippo Franco Gallery / Collection of Old Masters / 18 Rue de l’Anémone, Brussels

Reproduced on page 67 of the catalogue

Extract and photograph available on request