Circle of Adam Frans Van Der Meulen

Circle of ADAM FRANS VAN DER MEULEN (Belgium, 1632 - France, 1690).
Flemish school of the second half of the 17th century.
"Battle scene".
Oil on canvas.
Measurements: 114 x 150 cm; 130 X 175 cm (frame).

This magnificent battle scene between French soldiers and horsemen wearing turbans that probably represent militias of the Ottoman Empire, is aligned both in style and in composition and subject matter with the military representations of Adam Frans van der Meulen. The confrontation, properly speaking, takes place in the foreground, showing us in detail and with a masterful chromatic and narrative handling, the uniforms and sabers, the violent equine foreshortenings, the fallen bodies, the expressions of terror and, as a whole, an energetic compositional dynamism. In contrast to the foreground, the extensive valley furrowed by wetlands is a haven of peace for our gaze, although the landscape is also full of military posts in formation, reduced to almost abstract signposts in the distance. A golden eagle flies over the scene carrying a green bouquet in its beak. It can be interpreted that here the bird is imbued with symbolism, denoting French imperial supremacy over the Turks. This painting belongs to the circle of Frans van der Meulen, whose battle scenes exalted French victories, especially during the reign of Louis XIV. France had occasional conflicts with the Ottomans, but also alliances in some periods. The scene shown here could also allude to the operations that France carried out in North Africa. The wide valley with military formations at different levels and gaps in the distance could represent Algeria, southern Italy or even the Danube region.

Frans van der Meulen or Adam-François van der Meulen was a Flemish painter and draughtsman who was particularly known for his scenes of military campaigns and conquests. Although he also painted various portraits, hunting scenes, castle paintings and landscapes. He worked in the service of the French king Louis XIV of France, for whom he painted his victories, his new possessions and several portraits. He became one of the fundamental figures in the development of the propagandistic image of the French king. His battle scenes had a great influence on the genre of military painting in France creating stylistic patterns that were highly copied. Van der Meulen was one of the most important battle painters of his time. However he is also known for his many topographical drawings, which he made in preparation for his battle pieces. His works are characterized by a Flemish aesthetic in terms of color, although his style was modified by that of the French school. His early works in the battle genre show a strong influence of his master Pieter Snayers.