Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 10

Adam Frans van der Meulen
Study of a horse lying on its right side seen from the front

c. 1660

$15,730.10
£11,863.37
€13,500
CA$21,748.23
A$24,361.67
CHF 12,795.63
MX$296,230.09
NOK 162,034.46
SEK 153,814.27
DKK 102,770.83

About the Item

Provenance: Jean-Marc Du Pan (1785–1838), Geneva (L. 1440), passed to his brother Alexandre-Louis Du Pan (1787–1846); his sale, Geneva, March 26–28, 1840, included in lots 913–917; Collection of Marie de Rohan-Chabot, Princess Lucien Murat, Paris; Collection of Louis Stern; Aguttes Auction, Paris, 2019, lot 4; Acquired above by an important private collection, Stockholm. Essay: This exquisite red chalk drawing by Adam Frans van der Meulen depicts a horse lying on its right side, viewed from the front. It serves as a preparatory study for the left horse featured in one of the plates from the series of ten etchings titled Horses Wounded in Battle (see image), by Jan van Huchtenberg (1647–1733) after van der Meulen’s drawings. The series was published between 1662 and 1690 under van der Meulen’s supervision (Hollstein 41; Bartsch V. 425; Weigel 1843). Adam Frans van der Meulen, best known for his military scenes and landscapes, was granted a royal patent by Louis XIV to have his designs engraved and published. He assembled a team of skilled Flemish and Dutch printmakers, including Adriaen Frans Boudewijns, Abraham Genoels, Jan van Huchtenberg, and Romeyn de Hooghe, to translate his work into prints. The French engraver Robert Bonnart also collaborated with van der Meulen, producing and selling prints under his direction. Van der Meulen’s designs—many of which depict landscapes, battles, and military life—were engraved and distributed to private clients. His prints were initially sold from his lodgings at the Gobelins Manufactory and later distributed by publishers and merchants. In 1670, he arranged for 13 large-scale engravings representing royal conquests and sieges to be created for the King’s Cabinet, which were later published by the Royal Printing Office in 1679. These engravings solidified his role as a propagandist for Louis XIV, contributing to the Sun King’s iconic image. This drawing highlights van der Meulen’s masterful observation of anatomy and movement, capturing the vitality and pathos of his equestrian subjects. Inscribed: “Van der Meulen f.” Red chalk on paper unframed: 20.5 x 24.5 cm (8 1/8 x 9 5/8 in, irregularly cut) framed: 42 x 45 cm (16 1/2 x 17 3/4 in)
  • Creator:
    Adam Frans van der Meulen (1632 - 1690)
  • Creation Year:
    c. 1660
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 8.08 in (20.5 cm)Width: 9.65 in (24.5 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Condition:
    The artwork has undergone restoration with its current owner and is being sold on consignment. One corner is missing, as visible in the image. Otherwise, it features a beautiful patina and age-related wear, consistent with its history.
  • Gallery Location:
    Stockholm, SE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1445215709252

More From This Seller

View All
Charming Naivist Painting Depicting a Horse
Located in Stockholm, SE
This charming naivist painting by Swedish artist Olof (Olle) Casimir Ågren (1874–1962) depicts a horse standing gracefully beside a tree. Executed with bold, textured brushstrokes an...
Category

1950s Naturalistic Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

A Steed of the Past
Located in Stockholm, SE
Swedish title: Hästkrake (The Old Nag) oil on panel signed on the reverse: Osc. Lycke Provenance: Acquired directly from Katarina Gunnarsson, who inherited the painting from her m...
Category

Early 20th Century Post-Impressionist Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Sheep Resting in a Meadow by Francois (Frans) Van Severdonck, 1861, Signed
Located in Stockholm, SE
Francois (Frans) Van Severdonck (1809-1889) Belgian Sheep Resting in a Meadow signed Franc..? Van Severdonck and dated 1861 oil on panel panel size 16 x 23 cm frame 25.5 x 32 cm ...
Category

1860s Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Sepia Crayon Painting called At Full Gallop, by English Artist James Gillick
By James Gillick
Located in Stockholm, SE
This striking artwork, titled "At Full Gallop," is a testament to James Gillick's profound admiration for horses and his extraordinary skill as an artist. Executed in sepia crayon on...
Category

2010s Realist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Crayon

Shepherd with Sheep, Cows and a Goat in a Landscape by Jan Frans Soolmaker
Located in Stockholm, SE
Jan Frans Soolmaker (Flanders 1635‑1685) Shepherd with Sheep, Cows and a Goat in a Landscape oil on relined canvas canvas size 56 x 53 cm frame i...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Shepherd with Sheep, Cows and a Goat in a Landscape by Jan Frans Soolmaker
Located in Stockholm, SE
This painting depicts a pastoral scene that is attributed to the artist Jan Frans Soolmaker, an artist known for his Italianate landscapes and scenes that often feature equestrian and Arcadian elements. The painting is not signed but is attributed to Soolmaker, relating it to a known signed work by the artist that was sold at Sotheby’s London in 1999. The scene is suffused with the warm glow of a setting or rising sun, casting a soft light that is characteristic of Soolmaker’s landscapes. It shows a shepherd guiding a group of cattle across a shallow stream, with the animals taking center stage in the composition. The animals are rendered with careful attention to their forms and the play of light on their bodies, which is a hallmark of Soolmaker's work. The landscape is composed of a rocky terrain with trees and shrubbery, creating a sense of depth and natural beauty that invites the viewer to explore the scene further. The background suggests a vast, open landscape with distant mountains, which adds to the Italianate feel of the painting. The sky is dramatic, with clouds catching the light of the sun, contributing to the overall serene yet dynamic atmosphere of the work. The provenance of the painting is notable, having been in the possession of significant historical figures such as Swedish Prince Fredrik Adolf, and later The collection of Pär Ulmgren, The collection of Gösta Stenman, and Engineer and politician Gustaf Henry Hansson. Potential buyers have the option of choosing between a newly made gold frame or an older brown frame, which allows for personalization in how the work is presented. Soolmaker’s work is often compared to that of Dutch painter Nicolaes Berchem, whose style he emulated. Soolmaker's landscapes reflect a similar sensitivity to light and composition, making his works sought after for their beauty and historical significance. Despite the smaller body of work left by Soolmaker, due to his short career, his paintings are valued for their craftsmanship and the legacy of the artist’s brief but impactful contribution to the Dutch Italianate landscape genre. Information: Jan Frans Soolmaker (Flanders 1635‑1685) Shepherd with Sheep...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like

Horse - Drawing by Joseph Alexander Colin - Mid-20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Horse is a drawing realized by Joseph Colin in the Mid-20th Century. Pencil on ivory-colored paper Good conditions with slight foxing. The artwork is realized through deft express...
Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pencil, Paper

Horse
Located in Genève, GE
Work on paper
Category

Mid-20th Century Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Crayon

Antique Horse Study; Legs and Rumps, 1838" Wouterus Verschuur (Dutch, 1812-1874)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Horse Study "Legs and Rumps, 1838" Wouterus Verschuur l (Dutch, 1812-1874) Pencil on paper Signed and Dated "W Verschuur 1838" 10 x 6 1/2 (17 1/2 x 14 frame) inches In his time Wouterus Verschuur was an acclaimed and celebrated painter of horses. Through careful observation he learned to capture their physique and movement to perfection. As a true-born romanticist he was also interested in their character, thereby painting powerful carthorses in their stable, thoroughbred saddled horses during an afternoon ride or harnessed horses in action. He was born to an Amsterdam jeweler and received his training from the landscape and cattle painters Pieter Gerardus van Os and Cornelis Steffelaar. As part of this education Verschuur had to copy works by the 17th century painter Philips Wouwerman. Like Wouwerman, Verschuur's subjects consist mostly of stable scenes, landscapes with horses and coastal landscape. These works reflect the enduring influence of the northern Baroque masters on nineteenth century art, revealing the artist's close study of his Dutch and Flemish predecessors harking back to Peter Paul Rubens. Showing talent from a very early age, at 15 Verschuur had a painting exhibited at the "Exhibition of Living Masters" at Amsterdam in 1828. In 1832 and 1833 he won the gold medal at the annual exhibition at Felix Meritis. In 1833 he was appointed a member of the Royal Academy in Amsterdam. In 1839 he joined the artists' society, Arti et Amicitiae. His reputation was also considerable abroad. He was often featured in the annual exhibitions which travelled the large European cities at that time. In 1855 Napoleon III purchased one of his paintings at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. The Verschuur horse revels in its physicality, like a quintessential Baroque horse...
Category

1830s Romantic Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pencil, Paper

Horse's Head - Drawing - Late 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Horse's Head is an original pencil drawing on paper, attributed to Luigi Galli and realized in the late 19th Century. With another drawing of hands...
Category

Late 19th Century Modern Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pencil

Lone Horse
By Gustav Rehberger
Located in West Hollywood, CA
We are proud to present a just arrived series of original pen and ink and ink wash drawings by Austrian/American artist Gustav Rehberger. These works were acquired directly from the ...
Category

1940s Expressionist Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink

Horse sketch by Otto Vautier - Drawing on paper 31x37 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on cardboard Otto Vautier is a renowned Swiss painter, born in 1863 in Düsseldorf. He was influenced by a family of artists and developed his style ...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Animal Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Color Pencil