Artwork
Rast auf der Jagd
Rast auf der Jagd is an unspecified painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Karel Breydel. It dates from 1705 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1705, *Rast auf der Jagd* is an oil painting by the Flemish artist Karel Breydel, who worked under the nickname “Le Chevalier.” The work belongs to the Flemish Baroque tradition and is currently displayed in Munich’s Alte Pinakothek. It presents a bustling hunting tableau that captures a moment of collective activity in an open landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a group of hunters gathered beneath a tree, accompanied by several dogs and mounted figures. Some participants are on horseback, while others stand or sit, suggesting a pause in the chase. The scene conveys the social ritual of the hunt, emphasizing camaraderie, status, and the controlled vigor of the participants.
Technique & Style
Breydel employs a palette that balances earthy browns of foliage and ground with vivid hues in the costumes, creating visual contrast that highlights individual figures. Brushwork conveys motion, especially in the animated poses of horses and dogs, while the overall arrangement maintains a structured Baroque sense of depth and dynamism.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced during the later phase of Breydel’s career, a period when he focused increasingly on equestrian and hunting subjects. After changing hands among private collectors, the work entered the Alte Pinakothek’s collection, where it has been conserved as part of the museum’s representation of Flemish Baroque art.
Context
*Rast auf der Jagd* reflects the popularity of hunting imagery among the aristocracy of the Low Countries in the early 18th century. Within the broader Flemish Baroque movement, such scenes combined realistic detail with theatrical composition, aligning with contemporary tastes for both narrative content and display of wealth.
Artist & collection
Artist
Karel Breydel or Carel Breydel, called 'Le Chevalier' (1678 in Antwerp – 1733 in Antwerp) was a Flemish painter of battle pieces, equestrian paintings and landscapes.
