Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 16

17th century Flemish Old Master - Orpheus charming the animals with his music

About the Item

17th century Flemish Old Master - Orpheus charming the animals with his music The present painting is full of delightful details, such as the unicorn galloping in the distance, the pair of storks in the air, the shiny feathers of the peacock, ... . In ancient Greek mythology, Orpheus was celebrated for his extraordinary musical talent and his ability to charm and enchant all living creatures with the melodies of his lyre. Legend has it that wherever Orpheus traveled, he was accompanied by a menagerie of animals drawn to the uplifting strains of his music.In lush forests and verdant meadows, Orpheus would sit beneath the shade of ancient trees, strumming his lyre and filling the air with melodies that stirred the hearts of all who heard them. Birds would perch on branches, their songs blending harmoniously with Orpheus's own, while deer and rabbits emerged from their hiding places to listen, their eyes shining with wonder and delight.Even the fiercest of beasts, such as lions and wolves, would approach Orpheus with caution, only to be soothed by the gentle rhythms of his music. They would lie down beside him, their wild instincts tempered by the tranquility of the melodies, creating scenes of rare harmony and peace in the natural world.Orpheus's ability to connect with animals through his music was a testament to the universal power of art and creativity. His story serves as a reminder of the profound bond that exists between humans and the natural world, and the transformative impact that music and beauty can have on our lives. Jacob Bouttas, born in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1660, hailed from a family of artists with a rich artistic tradition. Like his father and teacher Frederic Bouttats II and his grandfather Frederic Bouttats I, he was strongly influenced by Jan Bruegel the Elder and the Brueghel-spirit echoes through his oeuvre. He specialized in painting landscapes with biblical and mythological scenes populated by small figures and animals (visible in, amongst other collections, Munich, Alte Pinakothek; Dijon, Musée des Beaux-Arts). A series of twelve coppers dedicated to the creation of the world according to the Genesis story, from the separation of light and darkness to the descent of Adam is preserved in the Museum of Navarra. Provenance: Private collection France Measurements: 75 * 95 cms. Framing options available. Antwerp hands panelmark visible verso, indicating a date of creation of the panel in the first half of the 17th century, after 1620. Panels were expensive at the time, especially this size and approved by the Antwerp panelmalers guild. A similar composition (measuring ca. 73 * 105cms) was offered at a leading auction house in Vienna in 2003 as attributed to Jacob de Backer with an estimate of 24-34000 euro.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 29.53 in (75 cm)Width: 37.41 in (95 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Circle Of:
    Jacob Bouttats (1660 - 1718, Flemish)
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
    Lovely and ready to hang. The lines of the panels are visible, mainly in raking light.
  • Gallery Location:
    Antwerp, BE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1423214241772
More From This SellerView All
  • 19th century dutch romantic painting - Cows, sheep and goats in their field
    By Jan van Ravenswaay
    Located in Antwerp, BE
    19th century Dutch romantic painting of animals resting in their pasture by Jan Van Ravenswaay Jan van Ravenswaay was a prominent Dutch painter of the 19th century, recognized for h...
    Category

    19th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Panel

  • Huge late 17th early 18th century Italian floral oil - Peacock doves and a duck
    Located in Antwerp, BE
    Huge late 17th, early 18th century Italian Old master - A peacock doves and a duck holding flowers in a park landscape at sunset, attr. Angelo Maria Crivelli In a peaceful park land...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Canvas

  • Huge 19th century Victorian oil landscape - Summer in the Highlands
    Located in Antwerp, BE
    19th century English countryside landscape "Summer in the Highlands" This peaceful painting depicts an Highlands countryside scenery during a sunny summerday. In the foreground two ...
    Category

    19th Century Romantic Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • 19th century painting Shepherd in a landscape with his sheep - Rosa Bonheur
    Located in Antwerp, BE
    Romantic 19th century painting of a shepherd with his flock by August Friedrich Schenck August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck (23 April 1828 – 1 January 1901) was a painter born in Glüc...
    Category

    19th Century Romantic Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Board

  • Huge 19th century Hunting scene - Setter dogs with their prey - Hunt
    By Henry Schouten
    Located in Antwerp, BE
    Huge 19th century Hunting scene oil painting "Two setters with their trophy in a landscape" by the well-known Belgian animal painter Henry Schouten Henry Schouten was born in Indone...
    Category

    19th Century Romantic Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • 17th century Flemish Old Master painting - Vast landscape with a majestic oak
    Located in Antwerp, BE
    17th century Flemish old master painting depicting a forest landscape with a majestic oak Alexander Keirincx, born around 1600 in Antwerp, Belgium, was a prominent Flemish landscape...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Panel

You May Also Like
  • c. 1800 Shepherd & Milk Maid with Cattle Pastoral Landscape Oil on Wood Panel
    Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
    Pastoral Landscape by Peter la Cave (fl. 1789-1816) oil painting on wood panel, framed framed: 12.5 x 15 inches panel: 8 x 10 inches provenance: private ...
    Category

    Late 18th Century Old Masters Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Wood Panel

  • A dark bay racehorse held by his trainer at Newmarket Heath
    Located in Stoke, Hampshire
    Benjamin Killingbeck (act. 1769-1783) A dark bay racehorse held by his trainer on a racecourse Oil on canvas Canvas Size - 40 x 50 in Framed Size ...
    Category

    18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Fine 18th Century Dutch Old Master Oil Painting Cattle & Sheep Ancient Ruins
    Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
    Pastoral Landscape Dutch Old Master, 18th century oil on canvas, unframed canvas: 12 x 10 inches provenance: private collection, UK condition: good a...
    Category

    18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • George paice, 19th century, oil, horse and rider with dogs
    By George Paice
    Located in York, GB
    A fine oil on canvas painting of a horse and rider with hounds. This traditional country scene shows the rider wearing his red hunting jacket, identified as Mr Mackenzie riding "dut...
    Category

    19th Century Old Masters Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Arcadian Italian Landscape - Old Master 17thC French oil painting herdsman sheep
    By (Attributed to) Gaspard Dughet
    Located in London, GB
    A delicate oil on canvas landscape capriccio of an Arcadian landscape with figures and sheep and goats in the foreground. A stormy sky and blasted tree populate the landscape and the...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Landscape Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Peacock and Birds in a Landscape - British 17thC Old Master animal oil painting
    By Marmaduke Cradock
    Located in London, GB
    This stunning British Old Master oil painting is attributed to circle of noted bird painter Marmaduke Cradock. Painted circa 1690 it is an excellent example and the sort of collection of birds he loved to paint - a peacock, wild turkeys, a jay in the foreground and doves, all set in a beautiful landscape. A variant of this painting is now in The Tate collection. Unlike many artists, he preferred to paint live birds with all their passions, joys and quarrels. The artist has perfectly capture the dynamics between this group, especially the dove and jay, as they all begin to settle down in the twilight. The colouring and brushwork are superb making this a fantastic British Old Master bird oil painting in a stunning carved gilt frame. Provenance. London estate. Condition. Oil on canvas, 42 inches by 39 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a magnificent complementary period carved and gilded frame, 50 inches by 47 inches and in good condition. Marmaduke Cradock (1660-1716) was an English painter of birds and animals. Some older sources give his first name as Luke. Cradock was an English painter, noted for his depictions of birds, dead game, and other animals. He was born in Somerton, Somerset and moved to London, where he served an apprenticeship to a house-painter. He was, however, self-taught as an artist, becoming skilled in the depiction of birds and animals. Horace Walpole wrote that "I have seen some pieces by his hand which he painted with a freedom and a fire that entitled them to more distinction". According to Walpole, Cradock deliberately shunned aristocratic patronage. He worked in general by the day, and for dealers who retailed his works; possessing that conscious dignity of talent which made him hate to be employed by men whose birth and fortune confined his fancy, and restrained his freedom. According to the RKD his work as a still life and bird painter was influenced by Melchior d'Hondecoeter, Peter Frans Casteels, and Jakob Bogdani. Sketches in the collection of the British Museum indicate that he based at least some of the birds in his paintings on drawings from life. He tended to paint domestic birds and common wild species, rather than the exotic varieties favoured by some other artists. He sometimes introduced elements of drama such as attacks by predatory animals into his bird paintings, a feature shared with the works of Francis Barlow...
    Category

    17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

Recently Viewed

View All