Who painted Departure of the hunt?

Departure of the hunt was painted by Philips Wouwerman in 1675-01-01.

Where can I see Departure of the hunt?

Departure of the hunt is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Departure of the hunt?

Departure of the hunt is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Departure of the hunt by Philips Wouwerman (1675)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The composition's emphasis on motion and the hunters' readiness underscores the ritualized character of the chase as both sport and social display.

The painting depicts a hunting scene centered on a mounted huntsman accompanied by hounds, a recurring motif in Philips Wouwerman's oeuvre that conveys aristocratic leisure and the pursuit of game. A woman and a man appear at left, with the woman gesturing toward the huntsman, suggesting a narrative of departure or farewell. The inclusion of a bridge, tower, and distant landscape elements situates the activity within an idealized European countryside, reinforcing the theme of elite sport amid cultivated terrain.

The composition's emphasis on motion and the hunters' readiness underscores the ritualized character of the chase as both sport and social display.

Technique & Style

Departure of the Hunt is an oil painting created in 1675 by Philips Wouwerman in Haarlem. The work belongs to the landscape genre and depicts a complex scene involving men, women, horses, hounds, a bridge, and a tower set within a hunting narrative. The handling of the oil paint facilitates the detailed rendering of these figures and architectural elements against a landscape setting. The painting is held in the Hermitage Museum collection, having previously been owned by Louis Antoine Crozat.

History & Provenance

Departure of the Hunt is an oil painting executed in 1675 in Haarlem by Philips Wouwerman. Before entering its present collection, the work belonged to Louis Antoine Crozat, a French banker and art patron whose ownership is documented in early eighteenth-century records. It was subsequently acquired by the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, where it is held today.

No contemporary commission documentation survives, and the work is classified as a landscape within the Dutch Golden Age corpus. The available sources do not provide a specific accession number or document an exhibition history beyond its presence at the Hermitage.

Overview

Philips Wouwerman's oil painting, Departure of the Hunt, created in 1675, captures a lively scene of a hunting party. This work exemplifies the Dutch Golden Age tradition of depicting landscapes and genre scenes. It is currently housed in the collection of the State Hermitage Museum, showcasing the artist's skill in rendering dynamic compositions and detailed figures within a natural setting.

Context

Philips Wouwerman was a prominent Dutch painter during the 17th century's Golden Age, a period renowned for its rich artistic output. As a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, he contributed significantly to the era's diverse artistic landscape. He was particularly recognized for his prolific output of hunting scenes, as well as landscapes and battle depictions, establishing his reputation within the genre.

Artist & collection

Artist

Philips Wouwerman

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.