Artwork
The bucking gray
The bucking gray is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Philips Wouwerman. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The wooded landscape with its stream situates the scene in a naturalistic outdoor setting, reinforcing the genre classification of landscape painting.
The painting depicts a rearing gray horse as its central subject, set within a landscape populated by a dog, a human figure, trees, and a stream. The bucking or plunging posture of the horse is a hallmark motif Philips Wouwerman used repeatedly, and it conveys the animal's spirited, untamed energy rather than a narrative event. The accompanying dog and human figure serve as secondary staffage, providing scale and a sense of pastoral activity around the horse.
The wooded landscape with its stream situates the scene in a naturalistic outdoor setting, reinforcing the genre classification of landscape painting. Together, these elements emphasize the vitality of the horse and the harmony between animal and environment, themes characteristic of Wouwerman's equestrian imagery.
Technique & Style
Created in 1650, this landscape painting by Philips Wouwerman is executed in oil paint on a panel support. The work measures 37 cm in height and 49 cm in width. Produced in Haarlem, the composition depicts a naturalistic scene featuring a horse, a dog, a human figure, a stream, and trees.
The piece is classified as a landscape genre work, utilizing the specific material combination of oil and wood panel characteristic of the artist's output during this period.
History & Provenance
The bucking gray was painted in 1650 by Philips Wouwerman in Haarlem, employing oil on panel. The canvas measures 37 × 49 cm, a size typical of his smaller landscape works.
The picture shows a bucking horse, a dog, a standing figure, a flowing stream and a tree, motifs that recur in Wouwerman's landscapes of the 1650s.
The dating rests on the explicit year recorded in the artist's catalogue raisonné and reproduced in the Rijksmuseum catalogue. No documentation of a commission survives; the work is regarded as a studio production intended for sale.
The painting entered the Rijksmuseum collection and has been displayed there since its acquisition, with no known earlier owners.
Overview
Philips Wouwerman, a prominent Dutch Golden Age painter, created The Bucking Gray around 1650 using oil paint. This dynamic scene captures a spirited horse in a tumultuous forest setting, characteristic of Wouwerman's focus on equestrian subjects and landscapes. The work exemplifies his contribution to the Dutch landscape tradition and is now housed in the Rijksmuseum.
Context
Philips Wouwerman was a prolific artist during the Dutch Golden Age, particularly recognized for his equestrian scenes, hunting parties, and battle depictions. As a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, he contributed significantly to the period's artistic output. The Bucking Gray reflects his specialization in dynamic outdoor compositions, aligning with the broader Dutch landscape tradition that flourished in the mid-17th century.
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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.
