Peeter Bout

PEETER BOUT (Brussels, 1658-1719).
"Pastoral landscape".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Presents label and stamp on the back.
Signed in the lower left corner.
Measurements: 61 x 76 cm; 71 x 66 cm (frame).
The golden light of the sunset bathes an idyllic country landscape. In the distance, rises an imposing mountain that is lost in the horizon, while in the foreground, a serene river meanders across the plain, reflecting the sky and the clouds that are tinged with pink and orange tones. On the riverbank, a group of shepherds and their flocks create a scene of daily life. The men, dressed in simple clothes and wide-brimmed hats, lead their animals to the water to drink. Cows, horses and sheep are grouped together, creating a calm and peaceful atmosphere. Some of the shepherds converse animatedly, while others tend to their flocks. In the background, an imposing triumphal arch, adorned with classical sculptures, stands on a hill. This structure contrasts with the simplicity of rural life at its foot. The arch suggests the presence of a more complex architecture, which has left its mark on this idyllic landscape.
To the right of the painting, a road winds off into the distance, leading to a small village perched on a hill. Houses with red tile roofs and fruit trees surround the village, creating an image of prosperity and abundance. This painting by Peeter Bout is a typical example of the 17th century landscape genre. The artist depicts an ideal of rural life, where nature and man live in harmony. The scene conveys a sense of peace and tranquility, inviting the viewer to reflect on the beauty and simplicity of country life.

Peeter Bout was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and engraver. He is known primarily for his landscapes, city, coastal and country views and architectural scenes painted in a style reminiscent of earlier Flemish masters such as Jan Brueghel the Elder. Pieter Bout was a very prolific artist who worked in many genres. Most of his works include a landscape element and many are views of cities, towns, harbors, harbors, beaches or rivers. His views are in the tradition of Jan Brueghel the Younger. They also show similarity to the work of David Teniers the Younger and the landscapes of Brussels landscape painters such as Adriaen Frans Boudewyns, Lucas Achtschellinck and Jacques d'Arthois, for whom he also often painted staff. He also painted Italian landscapes in the manner of Nicolaes Berchem. Some of his works are also similar to those of Pieter Casteels II, a Flemish painter known for his Italianate landscapes and city views. His paintings often include lively scenes such as village festivals and people enjoying themselves on the ice. Pieter Bout collaborated on a view of the beach with Lucas Smout, who painted the staff. This work known as Harbour and Fish Market (Musée des beaux-arts de Quimper) possibly depicts a view of the beach and harbor of Scheveningen, as in its composition and figures it closely resembles Pieter Bout's Fish Market on the Beach at Scheveningen (Van Ham Auctions, May 11, 2012, lot 518). The Rijksmuseum attributes a religious painting entitled The Adoration of the Shepherds to Bout. His paintings are lively and the brushwork is precise. His palette is clear and soft and heralds the 18th century.