Mountain landscape with pilgrims in a grotto Chapel - Joos de Momper

Oil on panel

53 x 74 cm, 69 x 88 cm (framed)

THE ARTWORK

In this striking landscape by Joos de Momper, a group of pilgrims is seen gathered in a grotto chapel, engaged in acts of devotion. The rocky, cavernous setting dominates the composition, with towering formations creating a natural, dramatic frame for the figures below. De Momper’s signature mannerist color transition—from brown in the foreground to green and blue as the landscape recedes into the background—emphasizes both the vastness of the space and the sublime nature of the setting. This composition reflects De Momper's focus on grotto landscapes, a genre for which he is considered the most significant exponent.
The painting features the rocky grotto as the focal point, which serves as a spiritual retreat and sanctuary for the devout. The cross placed at the grotto’s entrance suggests this is a pilgrimage site, where worshippers seek solace or enlightenment. In the background, the craggy Alpine-inspired mountains evoke a sense of awe and connection to the divine, echoing the theme of spiritual refuge that is central to the grotto painting genre.
De Momper is celebrated as the most prominent figure in the genre of grotto painting. These artworks focus on caves and rock formations as significant, almost sacred spaces. Grottoes in his paintings serve as hermit refuges, places of pilgrimage—as seen in this work—or backdrops for mythological narratives. Other notable artists who explored grotto landscapes include Cornelis van Dalem, Jan Brueghel the Elder, and Paul Bril. De Momper’s close association with Jan Brueghel the Elder is also evident in his work, where he often borrowed motifs and themes from Brueghel’s oeuvre, such as winter landscapes and harvest scenes. A notable collaboration between De Momper and Brueghel, a grotto landscape featuring a hermit reading, is part of the collection at the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna.

THE ARTIST

Joos de Momper the Younger (1564–1635) was a Flemish landscape painter, active primarily in Antwerp during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is recognized for his large-scale mountain landscapes, often characterized by towering rock formations and steep craggy slopes. De Momper's work represents the transitional phase between late 16th-century Mannerism and the emerging realism in landscape painting of the 17th century.
De Momper enjoyed considerable success during his lifetime, producing a prolific number of works, though only a few are signed. His collaboration with prominent figure painters such as Frans Francken II, Peter Snayers, and the Brueghel family—particularly Jan Brueghel the Elder—was crucial in his production of landscapes with richly detailed staffage. These collaborations often involved De Momper painting the landscapes while the other artists focused on the figures, creating dynamic, multi-artist compositions that were highly sought after in the art market.
De Momper’s skill in depicting mountainous landscapes earned him the title of Pictor montium ("Painter of mountains") in Anthony van Dyck's Iconography, a series of engravings portraying notable artists. His depictions of rocky landscapes were largely inspired by the Alps, reflecting a fascination with nature's grandeur. Although De Momper often painted fantastical landscapes viewed from a high vantage point, he also explored more naturalistic depictions with a lower viewpoint and subtler transitions in color, marking his contribution to the evolving landscape genre.