Lot 1084 Dα

The landscape composition of this piece is comparable to a large-format work (2.25 x 1.35cm) depicting men returning from a battle which van der Meulen painted to hang in the Château de Marly and is now housed in Versailles. The piece was based on a landscape sketch by van der Meulen and an engraving by Boudewijn. However, they show considerable discrepancies in the scenery. Louis XIV was not present at the taking of the Château de Joux. Instead, the battle was fought by Jacques-Henri de Durfort, the Duc de Duras, who is thought to be identifiable with the man on horseback in the red coat in the front left.