This charming early 18th-century Dutch oil painting depicts a dappled grey being shod by a blacksmith amid a lively crowd of figures. Wouwerman was a master of composition with every element perfectly poised to construct a narrative. 

A sharply-lit stallion, on the cusp of rearing, has its hoof clutched by a tattered blacksmith. Its stout rider looks on nonchalantly, leaning back to reveal the full effect of his paunch. While in the bottom right, a homespun cart piloted by an impatient young driver is tethered to a defiant goat. It’s going nowhere fast, despite the driver’s best efforts. It’s a feast for the eyes - jocular, characterful and somewhat base.

Scenes depicting equestrian activities were popular in the Netherlands, particularly those with witty or moralising subjects. Keen to service this demand, Philips Wouwerman produced numerous depictions of horse-based frolics, often abundant with activity, as we see here.

He was popular during his lifetime but also after his death, and well into the 18th century. As such, scores of followers created copies of his works and this is one such example. These include his younger brothers, Jan and Pieter Wouwerman. 

Held within a handsome 19th-century scroll and foliate frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 32” x 29” / 82cm x 74cm
Year of creation: c. 1700
Provenance: Private collection, UK.
Condition: Fine craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame with various marks and showing its age.
Our reference: BRV2023