Artwork
Hungry Wolves Attack a Group of Riders
Hungry Wolves Attack a Group of Riders is an oil painting by Eugène Verboeckhoven. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Hungry Wolves Attack a Group of Riders is a 1836 oil painting by Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven, a Belgian artist known for his animal and landscape depictions. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a chaotic scene of riders being attacked by wolves. Horses rear in fear as riders defend themselves. A thrown rider lies on the ground, surrounded by snarling wolves, highlighting the intense struggle between humans and animals.
Technique & Style
Verboeckhoven's use of oil paint captures the dynamic movement of the scene, with wolves leaping and biting, and horses in various states of panic. The riders are rendered in traditional attire, armed with swords and pistols, adding to the dramatic effect.
History & Provenance
Created in 1836, the painting is a product of Verboeckhoven's diverse artistic practice, which spanned sculpture, etching, engraving, and lithography, with a focus on animals and animated scenes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven (9 June 1798 – 19 January 1881) was a Belgian painter, a sculptor, an etcher, an engraver, and a lithographer of animals, animated landscapes, and portraits.
