Artwork
Erfrischung auf der Jagd
Erfrischung auf der Jagd is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jan Peeter Verdussen. It dates from 1731 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
The composition balances activity with a sense of spaciousness, typical of Verdunsen’s landscape works.
Jan Peeter Verdussen’s 1731 oil painting *Erfrischung auf der Jagd* presents a bustling outdoor tableau set against a ruinous backdrop of broken columns and arches. A crowd of figures—on foot, on horseback, and accompanied by dogs—converges around a modest platform, while a dark, cloud‑filled sky looms over distant hills and trees. The composition balances activity with a sense of spaciousness, typical of Verdunsen’s landscape works.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a moment of refreshment during a hunt, where participants pause amid the chase to socialize and rest. The inclusion of classical ruins suggests a romanticized pastoral setting, while the varied figures—riders, spectators, and animals—convey a communal leisure activity that blends the thrill of the hunt with genteel recreation.
Technique & Style
Verdussen employs chiaroscuro to model forms, allowing dark silhouettes of riders and dogs to emerge sharply from a lighter, atmospheric background. The handling of light and shadow creates a three‑dimensional effect, enhancing the depth of the scene. The palette and decorative treatment align with Rococo sensibilities, favoring elegance and lightness over stark realism.
History & Provenance
Created in the early eighteenth century, the painting entered the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in Flemish Rococo works and in documenting the genre of hunting landscapes popular among aristocratic patrons of the period.
Context
Verdussen, a Flemish artist known for battle scenes, camp life, and equestrian subjects, frequently combined natural environments with figures engaged in leisurely pursuits. *Erfrischung auf der Jagd* exemplifies his ability to integrate narrative detail within expansive landscapes, a hallmark of mid‑Rococo art that celebrated both nature and aristocratic sport.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Peeter Verdussen or Jan Pieter Verdussen (Antwerp, c. 1700 - Avignon, 31 March 1763) was a Flemish painter, draftsman and printmaker. He is known mainly for his battle scenes, incidents of camp life and equestrian…
