Adam-François van der Meulen, 'Philippe François d'Arenberg meeting Troops', 1662
About the work
Overview
The leader of a troop of horsemen lowers his hat to salute Philippe-François, 1st Duke of Arenberg and Duke of Arschot and Croy, who doffs his own feathered hat in response. Arenberg was an important figure at the court of Brussels: he served in the army of the Southern Netherlands, where he distinguished himself at the Siege of Arras in 1654, and was subsequently made captain general of the Flemish fleet in 1660 and governor of Hainault in 1663.
The Duke’s wealth and status is emphasised by his mode of travel: a coach pulled by six matching grey horses, all decorated in gold studs and tassels. The presence of weary-looking dogs and their handler suggests that a hunt has just taken place, and that this beautiful and expansive landscape is the Duke’s own estate.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Philippe-François d'Arenberg saluted by the Leader of a Troop of Horsemen
- Artist
- Adam-François van der Meulen
- Artist dates
- 1632 - 1690
- Date made
- 1662
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 58.5 × 81 cm
- Inscription summary
- Signed; Dated and inscribed
- Acquisition credit
- Bought, 1895
- Inventory number
- NG1447
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
Provenance
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Gregory Martin, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The Flemish School: circa 1600–circa 1900’, London 1986; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Exhibition history
-
2018Power and Beauty: The ArenbergsM - Museum Leuven25 October 2018 - 20 January 2019
Bibliography
-
1986Martin, Gregory, National Gallery Catalogues: The Flemish School, circa 1600 - circa 1900, London 1986
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.