142 - Flemish School, 17th century. Circle of DAVID TENIERS II (Antwerp, 1610 – Brussels, 1690)

Flemish School, 17th century. Circle of DAVID TENIERS II (Antwerp, 1610 – Brussels, 1690) “River Landscape with Figures.” Oil on panel. Monogrammed with the combined initials “DT” in the lower right corner. In good overall condition, consistent with its age. Measurements: 16.5 x 20 cm; 25.5 x 29.5 cm (frame). This work belongs to the tradition of 17th-century Flemish landscape painting, showing close affinities with the style of David Teniers the Younger, particularly his small cabinet paintings featuring everyday figures. The composition is structured around a diagonal line that contrasts an elevated foreground—where several peasants dressed in period clothing rest and converse—with a vast river landscape stretching toward the horizon. On the left, the calm waters, sandbars, and vegetation—among which the bell tower of a church rises—contribute to creating a remarkable sense of spatial depth. The scene bears similarities to works by Teniers such as *A Cottage by a River with a Distant View of a Castle* (c. 1650), held at the National Gallery in London, particularly in the integration of small figures into a natural setting with a distinctly atmospheric quality. The expansive sky, rendered with loose brushstrokes in shades of gray, silver, and ochre, dominates the composition, while the soft transitions of light and the sketchy treatment of the vegetation reinforce its connection to the Flemish master’s landscape repertoire. David Teniers the Younger was one of the most prominent painters of the Flemish Baroque, celebrated for his peasant scenes, landscapes, and genre compositions. His work achieved extraordinary popularity during the 17th and 18th centuries, exerting a notable influence on numerous painters in his circle and giving rise to many imitations and variations on his compositions.