Lot 1578 Dα

Carl Borromeo Andreas Ruthart was born in Gdansk and enrolled in the Antwerp painters' guild in 1663 following a stay in Rome. He began a career as an animal painter under the influence of Flemish artists such as Jan Fyt and Frans Snyders. His paintings often show animals hunting or fighting. Ruthart's action-packed scenes are rendered in a unique and recognisable style. Enjoying great renown among his contemporaries, his paintings are characterised by an impressive knowledge of animal anatomy and skill in depicting textures.
This scene shows an idyllic gathering of various animals in the wild. The painting is one of the few "peaceful" depictions in Ruthart's oeuvre, which often features assaults or fighting between animals as its subject. The rocky landscape with a swift flowing river is a frequently recurring motif.