The picture ‘Peasants Taking a Meal’ by Gillis van Tilborch had been kept in the collection of Alupka museum palace before 1941. In 1992, when Massandra palace was reopened as a museum, the picture was transferred into its collection and is now on display in the State Dining Room.

Gillis van Tilborch (1625–1678) was a Flemish painter who worked in the genre of low-life and genre painting. He also did portraits, multifigured compositions and allegories. Probably born in Brussels, he studied under David Teniers the Younger and earned popularity with his group portraits of noblemen and other estates.

One of the leading themes of Tilborch’s art was the everyday life of peasants. “Peasants Taking a Meal” shows a multifigured composition of peasants at a rare moment of rest during a celebratory meal. The characters are very true to life with their inartificial behavior. The celebration mood is enhanced by festive dishes on the table, white bonnets on women’s heads and big jugs of beer in the hands of men.

Van Tilborch did not limit himself to the genre painting but approached allegorical and biblical scenes as well, such as ‘Adoration of the Magi’.

In 1655 he became a master in the Brussels Guild of Saint Luke. In 1663 he was promoted Dean of the Guild.
After June 1666, when he had been appointed keeper of the painting collection of the court and castle of Tervuren, he mostly painted Kunstkammern interiors. Van Tilborch is also known as the author of several canvases addressing the topic of ‘artist and patron’, such as ‘Portrait of the Artist’s Family’, which is a reflection on the relationship between painters and art patrons of the 17th century.

In 1670 van Tilborch came to work in England where he painted ‘Tichborne Dole’, depicting the Tichborne family. Some time later, he returned to Brussels, where he died in 1678.