Artwork
Study of Dogs and a Monkey on the Edge of a Wood
Study of Dogs and a Monkey on the Edge of a Wood is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Pieter Boel. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
Overview
Pieter Boel’s oil painting, dated around 1658, portrays a lively encounter between a monkey and two dogs at the edge of a forest. The composition centers on the upright monkey, its long tail curling, while the dogs flank it on either side, caught in mid‑step. Sparse foliage and glimpses of sky frame the scene, emphasizing the animals’ movement.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of interaction that hints at hunting practices of the 17th century, where trained dogs and exotic animals often appeared together in studies. The monkey’s confrontational stance toward the dogs suggests a playful tension, inviting viewers to consider the relationship between domesticated and wild creatures within a pastoral setting.
Technique & Style
Boel employs a naturalistic palette, rendering fur and skin with fine brushwork that conveys texture and expression. Light filters through the trees, creating subtle contrasts that model the figures. The composition balances dynamic diagonal lines with a relatively open background, a hallmark of the Flemish Baroque interest in movement and anatomical observation.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1658, the painting entered the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Boel aligns with his known oeuvre of animal studies, and the piece contributes to the museum’s representation of mid‑17th‑century Flemish animal painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Boel or Peeter Boel was a Flemish painter, printmaker and tapestry designer.
