Pieter van Laer (Haarlem, ca. 1599-1642) - Country Landscape

Pieter van Laer (Haarlem, ca. 1599-1642) - Country Landscape
Oil on canvas with modern frame in carved and gilded wood, signed lower right: ‘P. De Laer’. De Laer’.

Measurements: 43 x 37 cm (canvas): 56.5 x 50 x 5 cm (frame)

Van Laer was a Dutch draughtsman, painter and engraver who settled in Italy. He stood out as a member of a group of artists who became known and called Bamboccianti. Its members painted, in particular, high quality scenes of country scenes amidst ruins and animals, with unidentified popular figures, in small and medium format, with their centre of activity in Rome, which they developed approximately between 1600-1650.

The present painting, signed ‘P. De Laer’ is a clear example of this genre. The composition in reference to the white horse should be compared with the same motif that appears in another equine in the engraved print signed by De Laer in the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid (see image).

It comes from an old 19th-century collection where it has a handwritten annotation in black ink ‘Nº 6’ on its original stretcher. It also retains a 20th century etching in reference to its framing done in Geneva (Switzerland): ‘AU CADRE DORÉ’ / Max WILLI / DOREURS - BOIS / 6, Bd duPont. d'Arve / 1205 GENEVE Tel. 251360’.

Provenance:

Old collection 19th century; inv. no. 6 (reverse).

France, trade.

Spain, private collection.