Jan Victors

Jan Victors Cheerful company in front of an inn Oil on canvas (relined). 78 x 92 cm. Signed lower right on the wooden bench: Johanes. Victors fc. Provenance Max Wassermann, Paris, 1967; Seine auction, Glliera Paris, November 26, 1967, lot 41 - Swedish private collection. - Belgian private collection. Jan Victors frequently depicted village streets and squares in the 1650s and 1660s. The focus is on the colorful hustle and bustle of the rural population. The narrative genre scenes with their loving details depict toothpickers, pig butchers and blacksmiths in rich and cheerful colors, as well as taverns in front of which cheerful parties devoted to drink and love have gathered. In this painting, three young couples are courting in front of an inn, while the travelers' horses are being cared for opposite. The interaction with the viewer is provided by the young groom with the bucket of water and the girl in the window. The two seem to know what is going on. Jan Victors may have worked in Rembrandt's studio in Amsterdam between 1630 and 1640. He later set up on his own and concentrated more on genre paintings such as the present one, rather than paintings with a religious or mythological theme. His painting style, which was oriented towards Rembrandt, weakened accordingly.