Artwork
Horses drinking at a fountain
Horses drinking at a fountain is an oil painting by Pieter van Bloemen. It dates from 1698 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1698 by Flemish artist Pieter van Bloemen, this oil on canvas presents a tranquil scene of several horses gathered around a stone fountain. The composition centers on the animals, whose heads are lowered to drink, while the surrounding landscape recedes into a softly rendered background.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of everyday rural life, emphasizing the natural behavior of the horses as they pause for water. By focusing on the simple act of drinking, the painting reflects a genre interest in ordinary activities and the quiet interaction between animals and their environment.
Technique & Style
Van Bloemen employs a balanced use of light and shadow to model the horses’ forms, giving them a sense of volume and movement. The brushwork combines fine detail in the animals’ musculature and ears with broader, more atmospheric strokes in the distant scenery, characteristic of his Italianate landscape influence.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, where it remains on display. Its attribution to van Bloemen aligns with his known output of animal and landscape subjects during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Context
During the period, Flemish painters often incorporated Italianate motifs—such as idealized countryside settings—into genre scenes. Van Bloemen’s work exemplifies this synthesis, merging a pastoral backdrop with a focus on equine subjects, a popular theme among his contemporaries.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter van Bloemen, also known as Standaart (bapt. 17 January 1657 – 6 March 1720), first name also spelled Peter or Peeter, was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and printmaker. He was a gifted landscape and animal artist…
