An animated town with farmers nd carriages - attr. Mattheus Molanus

Oil on copper

THE ARTWORK

This lively painting captures a bustling town scene filled with farmers, carriages, and townsfolk engaged in everyday activities. The composition is dynamic, with the central road flanked by rustic buildings and trees, leading the viewer’s eye toward a serene countryside in the background. The carefully detailed carriages and figures, scattered throughout the scene, highlight a typical day in a rural town. Each figure, animal, and structure contributes to the lively ambiance, creating a vivid impression of village life during the Dutch Golden Age.
Van den Berghe’s landscape is characterized by a soft, almost dreamlike light, typical of the Flemish-influenced style prominent in Middelburg. His work captures both the simplicity and energy of country life, with an emphasis on natural detail and the subtleties of light and shadow. This piece demonstrates the artist's skill in conveying atmosphere and movement, as well as his talent for animating landscapes with human activity.

THE ARTIST

Mattheus Adolfszoon Molanus, also known as Molan, was a Dutch Golden Age painter and draughtsman, born around 1591 in Frankenthal and active until his death in 1645 in Middelburg. He worked primarily in the provinces of Antwerp, Middelburg, and Ghent, with his earliest known work dated to 1611. In 1625, Molanus became part of the leadership of the Guild of Saint Luke in Middelburg, indicating his prominence in the local artistic community.
Molanus focused primarily on landscape painting, particularly winter scenes. His works reflect influences from prominent Flemish landscape painters like Jan Brueghel the Elder and Gillis van Coninxloo, blending the intricate detail and compositional style of the Flemish tradition with the atmospheric qualities of the Dutch Golden Age. Unlike some artists who relied on specialists for staffage, Molanus often included figures himself, adding a personal touch to his lively and detailed landscapes. His contributions to the art world lay in his skillful fusion of Flemish techniques with Dutch approaches, creating works that resonate with both regional traditions and broader trends in landscape painting of the 17th century.