Spalthoven Joannes Philippus

Joannes Philippus Spalthoven (also known as Spalthof or Spalthoff) (Antwerp 1680 1722) Rural landscape with travelers, oil on canvas Signed and dated lower right “J. P. Spalthoff 1722” in a gilded and finely carved frame. The work depicts a rural landscape enlivened by wayfarers, peasants and draft animals, immersed in a lush and harmonious nature. The path, traveled by humble figures, winds along a gentle hill and opens towards a body of water, while in the background one can glimpse a town, rendered with topographical taste and a serene light that envelops the entire composition. The sky, crossed by soft clouds, contributes to creating a suspended and luminous atmosphere, typical of Nordic painting. The balanced composition, the attention to narrative detail and the naturalistic rendering of the trees and figures testify to a deep knowledge of the Flemish landscape tradition, inspired by masters such as Brueghel, Teniers and Ruisdael. Perfectly preserved, this work represents a magnificent example of 18th century Flemish art, in which the observation of everyday life is combined with an idealized and poetic vision of the landscape. Height cm. 123 width cm. 70