(Antwerp 1573–1647)
A wooded landscape with soldiers on horseback at the edge of a forest preparing an ambush,
possibly traces of a monogram lower right (on the white prancing horse),
oil on panel, on the reverse possibly traces of the brand of the Antwerp panel makers’ guild, 55 x 92.5 cm, framed

Provenance:
Private collection, Belgium

We are grateful to Joost Vander Auwera for confirming the attribution after examination of the present painting in the original. He dates this work to 1610–1625. The present painting is accompanied by his certificate (28 January 2024).

The present composition depicts two troops of Habsburg cavalry, comprising either professional Spanish soldiers or local militia, who are on the verge of joining the encounter in the background. The regiment on the left has just received the signal to attack, while the group on the right is awaiting their turn and hiding behind the edge of the forest. The composition is a fine example of military genre scenes for which Sebastiaen Vrancx was renowned. The work does not seem to indicate a specific battle, as is often the case with this type of compositions by the artist. Vrancx himself served with the Spaniards, initially as an officer of the Antwerp civic guard and later as a captain from 1621–1631. This experience allowed him to develop the genre and become its most successful painter. Vrancx’s attention to detail and narrative is true to nature and is evident in the work offered here. Notice how the horse and rider on the far left are facing difficulties just before heading into battle and how the fellow trooper on the rearing horse nearby oversees the problem.

Like Hendrick van Balen and Peter Paul Rubens, the Antwerp-born Sebastian Vrancx probably trained with Adam van Noort, although this has not been confirmed. Shortly after this period, he is said to have been briefly active in Italy, where he became acquainted with Paul Bril and Jan Brueghel I. Vrancx’s drawings and paintings from this period show parallels with the works of the two aforementioned artists. After his return to Antwerp, his military career was followed by a successful career in painting.