Artwork
Huntsmen Setting Out
Huntsmen Setting Out is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Philips Wouwerman. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum. Created circa 1650, this oil on canvas presents a bustling hunting departure.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1650, this oil on canvas presents a bustling hunting departure. Mounted riders, accompanied by leashed dogs, occupy the foreground, their figures animated by the motion of rearing and turning horses. A sky mottled with clouds and a line of trees recede into the distance, establishing a broad landscape that frames the activity.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a moment before a hunt, emphasizing the coordination between hunters, their mounts, and the hounds. Attired in period headgear and bearing weapons, the men convey readiness and communal purpose. The dynamic arrangement of figures and animals reflects the social ritual of hunting as both sport and status display in 17th‑century Dutch society.
Technique & Style
Wouwerman employs a balanced palette, using warm ochres and siennas for the riders and horses while rendering the distant foliage and sky in cooler, subdued tones. The brushwork varies: fine detailing defines the armor and tack, whereas broader strokes suggest atmospheric depth. This contrast of texture enhances the sense of space and movement across the scene.
History & Provenance
The work belongs to the oeuvre of Philips Wouwerman, a prolific member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke known for his hunting and landscape subjects. It entered the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, where it remains part of the museum’s holdings of Dutch Golden Age paintings, illustrating the period’s interest in genre scenes of outdoor activity.
Artist & collection
Artist
Philips Wouwerman (also Wouwermans) (24 May 1619 (baptized) – 19 May 1668) was a Dutch painter of hunting, landscape and battle scenes. He became prolific during the Dutch Golden Age and joined the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke.
