The painting ‘The Robbers’ by the Dutch artist Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668) comes from the collection of the scholar Nikolai Rakitsky. The works of Dutch artists of the Golden Age became a subject of private and museum collections. This period in the history of Holland was marked by an incredible rise in the field of politics, economy and culture of the country after the victory in the war of independence from the Spanish crown. During this time, the skilled Dutch artists reached such a heyday that they began to influence the development of art outside the country. Protestantism did not imply the luxury of church decoration, so the artists got the opportunity to adapt new themes in their work and moved on to secular painting of a still life, landscape, and group portrait. Among the most famous masters of this period are Rembrandt, Jan Vermeer, Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruisdael.
Philips Wouwerman was also one of the brightest representatives of the Golden Age. Originally from Haarlem, he studied painting with his father Paulus Josten Wouwerman. He was influenced by the work of Peter Cornelis Verbeck, as well as Peter van Lara, whose artistic development took place in Rome. In 1640 he became a member of the painters' guild. He worked in everyday life, historical, landscape genres, but his battle and hunting scenes against the background of nature are best known. His painting style was distinguished by ease and freedom of execution. He preferred coloration, using silvery gray, red, yellow, blue and white to reproduce the atmosphere.
‘The Robbers’ depict an armed fight against the backdrop of a landscape. In a multi-figured composition, only the foreground characters are distinguishable, the rest are carried deeper into the composition and become barely visible. The battle is presented without an atmosphere of intense combat, dynamic, without frightening details. In the background, a hazy mountain landscape is barely outlined. The sky is almost cloudless. The painting is executed in a small format, typical for the artist’s work, and sustained by his favorite cold color.
Philips Wouwerman was also one of the brightest representatives of the Golden Age. Originally from Haarlem, he studied painting with his father Paulus Josten Wouwerman. He was influenced by the work of Peter Cornelis Verbeck, as well as Peter van Lara, whose artistic development took place in Rome. In 1640 he became a member of the painters' guild. He worked in everyday life, historical, landscape genres, but his battle and hunting scenes against the background of nature are best known. His painting style was distinguished by ease and freedom of execution. He preferred coloration, using silvery gray, red, yellow, blue and white to reproduce the atmosphere.
‘The Robbers’ depict an armed fight against the backdrop of a landscape. In a multi-figured composition, only the foreground characters are distinguishable, the rest are carried deeper into the composition and become barely visible. The battle is presented without an atmosphere of intense combat, dynamic, without frightening details. In the background, a hazy mountain landscape is barely outlined. The sky is almost cloudless. The painting is executed in a small format, typical for the artist’s work, and sustained by his favorite cold color.
