Lot 2066 Dα

This scene of a bear hunt is presumably an early work by the Netherlandish painter Abraham Hondius, thought to have been painted in the early 1650s. At the time it was probably painted, Hondius was residing in Rotterdam, where he married Geertruyd Willemsdr. van den Eijck on 4th April 1653. The couple had a daughter of the same name. Twelve years after the marriage, Hondius signed a six year rental contract for a house and workshop on the Ossenhoofd in Rotterdam (1.5.1665-30.4.1671). He moved to London in 1671, where he died in 1691 and was buried in the parish of St. Bride on Fleet Street. No further biographical information has yet been discovered about the artist, so we do not know under whom he received his artistic training.
Hondius' hunting scenes frequently depict richly dressed young men and women with their horses, dogs, and retinue, preparing to set out for or resting after a hunt. The present work depicts the dramatic highpoint of such a party. The brown bear has been set upon by the pack of dogs, and appears to be fending them off. It is not yet known if the riders galloping onto the scene and the other dogs readying for the attack will be able to turn the fight to their advantage.
According to a RKD file the painting was signed lower left, below the white dog, "A. DE. HONDIUS". We would like to thank Ellis Dullaart at the RKD in The Hague for confirming the authenticity of this work upon examination of photographs and for informing us that the present work is known to the RKD by way of mention in old documents.