Artwork
Departure from the Inn
Departure from the Inn is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Philips Wouwerman. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Technique & Style
It exemplifies the genre scene through its depiction of a weapon and reflects the formal stylistic traits characteristic of 17th-century Dutch painting.
The work is an oil painting executed on wooden panel, measuring 37 cm in height and 47 cm in width. It exemplifies the genre scene through its depiction of a weapon and reflects the formal stylistic traits characteristic of 17th-century Dutch painting. The surface handling reveals the typical layering and glazing techniques associated with oil on panel, contributing to its preserved condition within the collection.
History & Provenance
Philips Wouwerman created the oil painting Departure from the Inn on a panel support. While one record assigns the work to 1650, other data suggests an inception range between 1650 and 1660. The painting entered the Spanish royal collection through a specific lineage of ownership, having been held by Philip V of Spain and his wife, Elisabeth Farnese.
Subsequent owners included Charles III of Spain and Ferdinand VII of Spain. Today, the work is part of the collection at the Museo del Prado, with historical records also linking it to the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso.
The painting is held in the Museo del Prado, where it has been part of the collection since at least the early 19th century, previously owned by Spanish monarchs Ferdinand VII, Charles III, Philip V, and Elisabeth Farnese. It was displayed in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez and later in the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso before entering the museum's inventory. The work, created in 1650 using oil on panel, measures 37 cm by 47 cm and is classified as a genre scene.
Overview
Created circa 1650, Departure from the Inn is an oil painting by Dutch Golden‑Age artist Philips Wouwerman. The work shows a bustling exterior of a rural tavern where riders and horses gather to set out on a journey. Warm tonalities and lively composition convey a moment of transition, capturing the anticipation of travel in a countryside setting.
Subject & Meaning
The scene centers on a group of travelers preparing to leave an inn, with a man leading a horse and another holding a whip. The inn’s thatched roof and open doorway suggest a stable or courtyard, emphasizing the practical aspects of 17th‑century travel. The painting reflects everyday life, highlighting movement, communal activity, and the social rituals surrounding departure.
Artist & collection
Artist
Philips Wouwerman (also Wouwermans) (24 May 1619 (baptized) – 19 May 1668) was a Dutch painter of hunting, landscape and battle scenes. He became prolific during the Dutch Golden Age and joined the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke.
