Artwork
Landscape with Skaters
Landscape with Skaters is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Jan Brueghel, the elder. It dates from 1615 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. Created between 1615 and 1625, this oil on canvas portrays a winter landscape centered on a frozen pond where several figures glide on ice.
About this work
Overview
Created between 1615 and 1625, this oil on canvas portrays a winter landscape centered on a frozen pond where several figures glide on ice. The scene is set against a modest village, with modest dwellings and trees receding into the background, while onlookers stand along the shore observing the activity.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a communal winter pastime, emphasizing the interaction between the skaters and the spectators. By situating the activity within a quiet rural setting, the work reflects everyday life in a Flemish environment, highlighting both the leisure of ice skating and the social gathering it engenders.
Technique & Style
Executed in a realistic manner, the painting employs careful modeling of the ice surface and the figures' postures. A restrained palette of browns and grays lends a muted atmosphere, while subtle glazing techniques create depth in the sky and water, enhancing the sense of cold and stillness.
History & Provenance
Long attributed solely to Joos de Momper, scholarship now recognizes the contribution of Jan Brueghel the Elder, indicating a collaborative effort. The work entered the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Flemish holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Brueghel the Elder ( BROY-gəl, US also BROO-gəl; Dutch: ; 1568 – 13 January 1625) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman.
