Artwork
Muilezeldrijvers bij een herberg
Muilezeldrijvers bij een herberg is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Karel Dujardin. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. This painting depicts muleteers and their animals taking a break at an inn.
About this work
History & Provenance
This timeframe aligns with the artist's period of residence in Amsterdam following his return from France and prior to his final departure for Italy.
The painting Muilezeldrijvers bij een herberg by Karel du Jardin is dated 1658. This timeframe aligns with the artist's period of residence in Amsterdam following his return from France and prior to his final departure for Italy. During these years, du Jardin was an active member of the Confrerie Pictura in The Hague and produced small-scale Italianate genre scenes that were highly valued by collectors.
The work reflects his mature style developed after his initial travels and training, likely under Nicolaes Berchem, though specific records regarding the commission or original patron for this particular piece are not provided in the available documentation. The painting represents his characteristic focus on peasants and animals within an Italianate landscape setting, a genre for which he became renowned during the Dutch Golden Age.
Context
Karel du Jardin is a central figure in the Dutch Golden Age, specifically recognized for his Italianate landscapes and genre scenes that align with the Bambocciata movement. His work, including the 1658 painting Muilezeldrijvers bij een herberg, exemplifies his focus on small-scale scenes featuring peasants and animals set within an Italianate environment. Du Jardin's artistic trajectory, defined by extended stays in Rome and Venice, allowed him to join the Bentvueghels, where he earned the nickname "Bokkebaard" (Goat-beard).
While he produced portraits and religious history paintings, his reputation rests primarily on his ability to capture the light and atmosphere of the Italian countryside. His paintings were highly valued by collectors in Amsterdam during his lifetime. The work remains representative of his mature style, characterized by golden lighting and the integration of figures into the pastoral landscape.
Overview
This painting depicts muleteers and their animals taking a break at an inn. The scene, characterized by warm light and figures seeking shade, evokes the atmosphere of a southern European country, specifically Italy. Despite its convincing portrayal of a foreign landscape, the work was created in the Netherlands by an artist who had not traveled abroad, demonstrating a skillful imaginative rendering of distant locales.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a group of muleteers and their heavily loaded beasts pausing for respite in an inn's courtyard. The intense sunlight suggests a warm climate, prompting the figures to seek shelter in the shadows. A small donkey also finds refuge from the heat beneath larger animals.
Details like the two empty, raffia-covered wine bottles (fiaschi) hanging above the doorway further reinforce the illusion of an Italian setting.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Karel Dujardin (September 27, 1626 – November 20, 1678) was a Dutch Golden Age painter.
