Description
Roelandt Savery's painting Horses and Oxen Attacked by Wolves is an impressive example of the 17th-century Flemish Baroque style. The work represents a dramatic and chaotic scene in which a group of horses and oxen are attacked by a pack of hungry wolves in a winter landscape.
The composition of the work is impressive, with the animals at the center of the scene and the snowy and mountainous landscape that surrounds them. The perspective and size of the animals create a sense of movement and tension, making the painting even more powerful.
Color in the work is vibrant and dramatic, with the white of the snow contrasting with the warm tones of the animal skin and the bloody red of the wounds. Savery uses a loose and expressive brushwork technique to create a sense of movement and energy in the work.
The history of the painting is interesting, as it is believed to have been commissioned by Emperor Rudolf II of Austria in the 17th century. The work was later acquired by King Charles I of England and became part of the royal collection. After the execution of Charles I, the painting was sold and eventually ended up in the collection of the Duke of Westminster.
A little known aspect of the work is that Savery was not only a painter, but also a botanist and zoologist. Many of the animals and plants that appear in the work are represented with great detail and scientific precision.
In short, Horses and Oxen Attacked by Wolves is an impressive work that stands out for its dramatic composition, vibrant color, and expressive technique. Furthermore, its history and the artist's connection to science add an extra dimension to this Flemish Baroque masterpiece.