This late 19th-century oil painting by Belgian artist Isidore Verheyden (1846-1905) depicts a small farmyard.
Snuffling and grunting amid the grubby hay, a chubby pig with a muddy nose. The king of its pen, surrounded by poultry, rummaging for scraps. Beyond, across a tired wall, a woman walks past a stone farmhouse. She’s carrying something, perhaps it's feed time.
Verheyden was a master, one of the more influential artists of his generation. He studied under the great Jean-François Portaels and trained numerous others. His rapid plein air daubs provide an exciting glimpse into his thought processes. Note the confident application of light in short bold marks and the accomplished rendering of the clouds in swift pinkish swirls. Perhaps he stayed here awhile on a rural excursion.
Stamped in the lower right ‘Atelier Verheyden’ and held within a gilt frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 20½” x 16” / 52cm x 41cm
Year of creation: c. 1890
Provenance: Private collection, Belgium.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Craquelure but the paint is stable. Canvas relined. Later stretcher. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £37,065
Our reference: BRV1627
Isidore Verheyden was a Belgian artist predominantly known for landscapes, portraits and still life. He was a member of the Belgian Royal Academy. He trained under Joseph Quinaux, Jean-François Portaels and Théodore Baron. And also taught numerous students including Jean Laudy. His works are held in various public collections including the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium.
Learn more about Isidore Verheyden in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
