Who painted Horse with Two Monkeys and a Dog?

Horse with Two Monkeys and a Dog was painted by Nicolaes de Bruyn in 1594.

Where can I see Horse with Two Monkeys and a Dog?

Horse with Two Monkeys and a Dog is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Horse with Two Monkeys and a Dog?

Horse with Two Monkeys and a Dog is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Horse with Two Monkeys and a Dog

Nicolaes de Bruyn , 1594

Horse with Two Monkeys and a Dog is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Nicolaes de Bruyn. It dates from 1594 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:upper right corner, in plate: NB; lower center, in plate: 9; verso, lower left, in graphite by a later hand: [indecipherable] 27242; verso, lower right, in graphite: B-32,241
Markings: Marked:verso, stamped in black ink: Lessing J. Rosenwald (Lugt 1760b)

About this work

Overview

Nicolaes de Bruyn, a Flemish engraver active in the late 16th century, produced the print Horse with Two Monkeys and a Dog in 1594. Executed on laid paper, the work presents a stationary horse surrounded by two climbing monkeys and a seated dog, rendered with the precise line work typical of de Bruyn’s prints.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a horse, its back and flanks occupied by two monkeys, one clutching a leafy branch, the other reaching outward, while a dog sits on the ground, gazing upward. The empty background isolates the figures, emphasizing the interaction among the animals and inviting contemplation of their symbolic or allegorical roles.

Technique & Style

De Bruyn employed fine, closely spaced lines and delicate hatching to model volume and convey texture, giving the animals a solid, three‑dimensional presence. The engraving’s restrained palette of black ink on white laid paper highlights his meticulous approach, distinguishing his hand from that of his uncle Abraham and other contemporaries.

History & Provenance

Trained under his uncle Abraham de Bruyn in Antwerp, Nicolaes later worked in the Dutch Republic, where he developed an independent style. Although influenced by artists such as Lucas van Leyden, de Bruyn’s prints, including this 1594 engraving, were produced in modest editions and circulated among collectors of the period.

Context

The late 16th century saw a flourishing of animal imagery in Northern European prints, often used to convey moral or emblematic messages. De Bruyn’s inclusion of monkeys, a common symbol of folly or mimicry, alongside a noble horse and a loyal dog reflects contemporary visual conventions.