Artwork

A levade executed under the watchful eye of Mercury, Venus and a riding master

A levade executed under the watchful eye of Mercury, Venus and a riding master is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jacob Jordaens. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.

About this work

Overview

Jacob Jordaens painted *A levade executed under the watchful eye of Mercury, Venus and a riding master* in 1645. The oil on canvas presents a dynamic equestrian scene in which a horse performs a levade, a controlled rear, while surrounded by mythological figures and a riding instructor. The work belongs to the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp.

Subject & Meaning

The composition merges a technical display of horsemanship with allegorical presence: Mercury and Venus flank the central rider, suggesting a blend of swift communication and love with the disciplined art of dressage. The inclusion of a riding master underscores the instructional aspect of the maneuver, while the surrounding figures add narrative depth to the otherwise athletic tableau.

Technique & Style

Jordaens employs a rich Baroque palette and pronounced chiaroscuro, using light and shadow to model the horse’s muscular form and the figures’ drapery. The detailed rendering of the architectural backdrop, with arches and columns, creates a sense of depth, while the crisp handling of the rider’s red coat and the whip conveys motion.

History & Provenance

Created after the deaths of Rubens and van Dyck, the painting marks Jordaens’s emergence as the leading Flemish painter of his generation. It entered the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp’s holdings in the 19th century, where it has remained on public display.

Context

The work reflects the 17th‑century fascination with classical mythology and courtly sport. Dressage, especially the levade, was a celebrated skill among aristocratic circles, and its depiction alongside deities aligns with contemporary allegorical practices that linked physical prowess to divine virtues.