Artwork
The return from the hunt
The return from the hunt is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Johannes Lingelbach. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created circa 1650 by Dutch painter Johannes Ling‑Lingelbach, this oil on canvas belongs to the landscape tradition of the Dutch Golden Age.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650 by Dutch painter Johannes Ling‑Lingelbach, this oil on canvas belongs to the landscape tradition of the Dutch Golden Age. The composition captures a lively procession returning from a hunt, set against a gently clouded sky and a distant building, and is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The scene centers on a group of riders and pedestrians moving through a rural road. A man in a bright red coat atop a white horse leads, accompanied by a woman in darker attire, while dogs sprint ahead and shepherds herd sheep. The arrangement suggests a moment of transition between the excitement of the hunt and the calm of the countryside.
Technique & Style
Lingelbach renders the horses with meticulous attention to musculature and the reflective quality of their coats, using warm, subdued tones. Light falls across the figures, creating a subtle chiaroscuro that models form and adds depth. The overall palette balances activity with serenity, characteristic of the second‑generation Bamboccianti’s genre‑focused realism.
History & Provenance
Active in Rome between 1625 and 1700, Lingelbach was associated with the Bamboccianti, a group of Dutch and Flemish painters who depicted everyday life. After its creation, the work entered various private collections before being acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on public display.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Johannes (or Johann) Lingelbach (1622 – 3 November 1674) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, associated with the second generation of Bambocciate, a group of genre painters working in Rome from 1625–1700.
