Lot 1505 Dα

A series of fanciful sleighs, each transporting a seated lady and a standing gentleman, form the culmination of the varied and finely painted figures that populate this winter scene. They are accompanied by people going about their daily work, such as collecting firewood or slaughtering a pig. All of these scenes take place before an imposing windmill that dominates the left half of the image, together with the snow-covered house beside it and in the hazy distance we see the vague outlines of a city with mighty church spires.
Henri van Assche, the painter of this highly original winter scene, was born in Brussels in 1774 and specialised in landscapes early in his career. His detailed depiction of natural and architectural motifs was highly admired by his contemporaries and made him one of the most renowned landscape painters of his generation. His works also enjoyed wide dissemination in printed form.