233 - Peter Paul Rubens, Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert - Landscape with Windmill and Bird-Trap

Peter Paul Rubens, Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert - Landscape with Windmill and Bird-Trap Description: Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) / Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert (c. 1586–1659) – Landscape with Windmill and Bird-Trap (Landscape with a Woodcock Catcher) – A highly atmospheric landscape after Peter Paul Rubens, showing an extensive wooded countryside at dusk or by moonlight. In the foreground a bird-catcher operates a large net while a small group of figures watches; beyond, the landscape opens towards distant fields and a prominently silhouetted windmill beneath a luminous sky. Engraved by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert, one of the finest reproductive engravers associated with Rubens, after the celebrated painting by the master. Lettered below “Petr. Paul. Rubens pinxit / S. à Bolswert sculpsit” and with the address “Aegidius Hendricx excudit Antverpiae”. The extensive dedication is addressed to Michel Le Blon (1587–1656), artist, engraver, art agent and diplomat to the Swedish Crown, and notably identifies him as the owner of Rubens's original painting on which the engraving was based. The original painting subsequently entered important collections and is today preserved in the Musée du Louvre, Paris. A particularly beautiful example of Bolswert's ability to translate Rubens's atmospheric landscape painting into engraving, with the effects of evening light, the distant windmill and the monumental wooded foreground rendered with remarkable richness. Fourth state of five, with the address of Aegidius (Gillis) Hendricx Dimensions: 32,50 x 45,80 cm Condition: Very good impression on laid paper from the period, with the full plate border and small to good margins. Some light foxing mainly in the margins, flattened central fold, small pin hole and a small closed tear just entering the image. A few minor handling traces, otherwise in very good condition. Literature: Hollstein 307 IV/V; Schneevoogt 232.53.3; Rooses 1176; Corpus Rubenianum Ludwig Burchard XVIII.1, no. 67. Medium: Engraving Date: 1638