Lot 60 Dα

With his landscapes, hunting scenes, allegorical paintings and depictions of the seasons, Sebastian Vrancx played an important role in the Antwerp art scene of the early 17th century. He was accepted as a member of the Guild of Saint Luke in 1600/1601, shortly after his return from Italy, and he had contact with both the Brueghel-circle and Joos de Momper, in whose landscapes he would occasionally paint the figures. Works like the present scene of elegant company in a park can generally be ascribed to his earlier phase, as he was later to devote himself primarily to the depiction of cavalry battles. The figure's clothing allows the work to be dated to around 1605-1610.

Dr. Joost van der Auwera plans to include this work in his upcoming monograph on the artist.