Frans Bartholomeus Douven (1688-1726), Bacchanale, Oil On Panel.

Flemish School circa 1700 Bacchanal Oil on panel formerly parqueted (3 boards) Dimension: 40 x 52 cm Dimension with gilt wood frame: 53 x 65 cm Very beautiful bacchanal scene that can be dated around 1620 and which corresponds to the Flemish school in Antwerp. The figures are installed in a frieze, with the central place left to a Bacchus holding a silver cup from which wine is released. Probably drunk, he imposes himself with a sculptural body accompanied by nymphs and naked satyrs surrounded by drapes. This scene stands out in a dark-toned landscape delimited on the left by a beautiful drooping drapery and on the right by trees and a dark sky or a few white clouds bring a touch of brightness. Very beautiful still lifes enrich this bacchanal, especially in the foreground. The dynamism of the composition and the colors used are very interesting, a certain harmony emerges from this work. The impression of movement which artists have sought for so long is very successful here. We can see that each character is in action, whether it is the putti that is about to shoot an arrow, the satyr on the left stretching out his arm, the drape of the one on the right who takes off, the wine that tomb of the cup of Bacchus or the stolen kiss that the satyr in the foreground tries to subtract. All these elements combined with the finesse of the painting make this painting a very beautiful work of the XVIIth century.