Lot 2541 Dα

Wouterus Verschuur studied under the landscape and animal painters Pieter Gerardus van Os (1776-1839) and Cornelius Steffelaar (1797-1861). His talent was recognised early on and he became a member of the "Akademie voor Beeldende Kunsten" and the "Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut" in Amsterdam in 1833. He lived and worked in Amsterdam, The Hague, Brussels, and Haarlem. Although he was primarily active in the Netherlands, he also made a name for himself outside of his own country, especially in France. Napoleon III purchased one of his paintings at the Paris World Fair of 1855.
Verschuur specialised in the depiction of horses, usually painting them in their stables. His works are heavily influenced by the 17th century school, especially the horse motifs of the animals and battle painter Philips Wouwerman. The present work depicts a stable interior with a young farm hand, horses, chickens, a dog, and a sheep. Two of the horses wear collars, which identify them as working, rather than saddle, horses. Verschuur has chosen to depict the animals of the labouring population rather than delicate Lippizaners or elegant Arab stallions.