Artwork
Spielende Gassenjungen
Spielende Gassenjungen is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist David Ryckaert III. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1640 by the Antwerp‑based painter David Ryckaert III, *Spielende Gassenjungen* is an oil on canvas that belongs to the Flemish Baroque tradition. The work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich and exemplifies Ryckaert’s interest in everyday street scenes.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a bustling street episode: a figure is hoisted aloft by another, both dressed in simple, long‑sleeved garments, while a woman nearby cradles a child. A third onlooker raises a hand, adding to the sense of spontaneous activity and communal play.
Technique & Style
Ryckaert employs a muted palette and careful modeling of forms, allowing the figures to emerge from a relatively flat background. Subtle chiaroscuro creates modest contrasts of light and shadow, emphasizing the three‑dimensionality of the bodies without dramatic theatricality.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the Bavarian royal collection in the 19th century. It has remained in the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings since that time, where it is displayed among other Flemish genre works.
Context
The scene reflects the 17th‑century Flemish fascination with genre painting, which celebrated ordinary activities of the lower classes. Ryckaert’s peers, such as David Teniers the Younger, similarly rendered street games and communal gatherings, situating this work within a broader cultural interest in daily life.
Artist & collection
Artist
David Ryckaert III, David Rijckaert III or David Rijckaert the Younger (2 December 1612, Antwerp – 11 November 1661, Antwerp) was a Flemish painter known for his contribution to genre painting, in particular through his scenes of merry…
