1836
oil
canvas
From the collection of Rijksmuseum
Hungry Wolves Attack a Group of Riders is a 1836 oil by Eugène Verboeckhoven, held at Rijksmuseum.
This painting shows a chaotic scene of horses and riders being attacked by a pack of wolves. The horses are rearing up in fear, while the riders are trying to defend themselves. In the foreground, a rider is thrown from his horse and lies on the ground, surrounded by snarling wolves. The wolves are depicted in various poses, some leaping through the air, others biting at the horses' legs. The horses are shown in different states of panic, some rearing up on their hind legs, others running wildly. The riders are dressed in traditional clothing, with hats and cloaks, and are armed with swords and pistols. The painting is a dramatic depiction of a fierce battle between humans and animals. If you're interested in learning more about the artist's use of light and shadow, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.
Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven (9 June 1798 – 19 January 1881) was a Belgian painter, a sculptor, an etcher, an engraver, and a lithographer of animals, animated landscapes, and portraits.
See the richer artist page
