Artwork
Three Horses in a Field
Three Horses in a Field is an ink print by the Baroque artist Pieter van Laer. It dates from 1636 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
One is facing left, another is turned slightly toward it, and the third is almost sideways.
This sketch shows three horses standing close together in a grassy field. One is facing left, another is turned slightly toward it, and the third is almost sideways. Trees and bushes fill the background, and the ground has patches of dirt and short grass.
The artist used fine lines to show the horses’ muscles and fur texture. This was made in 1636 using a method that scratches into metal plates.
Next, look up etching to see how artists create prints like this one.
Overview
Created in 1636, *Three Horses in a Field* is a print by Pieter van Laer, a Dutch artist who worked in Rome. Executed with both etching and engraving on laid paper, the image presents three horses clustered in a grassy landscape, framed by trees and low vegetation.
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on three equine figures positioned closely together, each shown from a slightly different angle. The surrounding field, dotted with patches of earth and short grass, suggests a quiet, everyday moment in a rural setting, characteristic of van Laer’s interest in genre scenes of the Roman countryside.
Technique & Style
Van Laer combined the incised lines of engraving with the fluid, acid‑etched marks of etching, allowing him to render fine details such as muscle tone and the texture of the horses’ coats. The use of laid paper, with its ribbed texture, adds a subtle tonal quality to the print.
History & Provenance
Active in Rome as a member of the Bentvueghels—a fraternity of Dutch and Flemish artists—van Laer was nicknamed Il Bamboccio. His work helped shape the Bamboccianti, a group of painters who favored informal, rustic subjects, and this print exemplifies the style that influenced that circle.
Context
The image reflects the broader 17th‑century interest among Northern artists in depicting everyday life and pastoral scenes beyond the grand historical or religious narratives popular in Italy. Van Laer’s focus on ordinary animals and landscape aligns with the genre‑painting trend that spread across Europe during the period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Bodding van Laer (christened 14 December 1599, in Haarlem – 1641 or later) was a Dutch painter and printmaker.
