A Bear Hunt
after Jan Fyt (bap. Antwerp 1611 - Antwerp 1661)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1600 - 1699
Materials
oil on canvas
Measurements
1905 x 2413 mm (75 x 95 in)
Order this imageCollection
Dyrham, Gloucestershire
NT 453738
Caption
This dramatic painting of a bear hunt was purchased by William I Blathwayt (?1649–1717) in 1693 through the Flemish artist Jan Siberechts (1627–1703), who seems to have acted as an art dealer for the English statesman. It was referred to in a list of paintings purchased through Siberechts as "ye hunt of ye bear". It was formerly attributed to the Flemish artist Frans Snyders (1759–1657), but it is now thought to be painted after a work by his pupil, Jan Fyt, in the manner of Frans Snyders.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, A Bear Hunt, possibly after Jan Fyt (Antwerp 1611 – Antwerp 1661), in the manner of Frans Snyders (Antwerp 1579 - Antwerp 1657). Five hounds attack a bear in a landscape, the bear rearing up on its hind legs in the middle of the composition.
Provenance
Purchased by William Blathwayt (?1649-1717) through Jan Siberechts in 1693; put up for sale by William III Blathwayt (1719-1787) along with other pictures from Dyrham in 1765, second day of the sale, 19 November 1765, lot 22; recorded again in inventories of Dyrham Park from 1839; thence by descent; Indigenous collection purchased by the Ministry of Works in 1956 and given to Dyrham Park in 1961
Makers and roles
after Jan Fyt (bap. Antwerp 1611 - Antwerp 1661), artist manner of Frans Snyders (Antwerp 1579 - Antwerp 1657), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Frans Snyders (Antwerp 1579 - Antwerp 1657), artist
References
Siberechts 1693 Jan Siberechts, Note on Pictures, Antwerp, 1693 A Catalogue Of the Valuable Collection of Pictures of William Blathwayte, Esq. Which will be sold by Auction at Derham, in the County of Gloucester, on Monday the 18th of November Inst. and the three following Days [...] Thomas Joye, Auctioneer [1765], Second day of the sale, 19 November 1765, lot 22 Inventory and valuation of all the household furniture, linen, china, glass, books, pictures [...] the property of William Blathwayt Esqr. at his late residence Dyrham Park [...] March 1839. [March 1839]., in the Saloon [Great Hall] Dyrham Park 1844 List of Valuable Pictures, Prints, &c at Dyrham House, Gloucestershire the Property of Geo: Wm. Blathwayt Esq. with nominal prices affixed to some for the purposes of Insurance only. [1844], no.9, in the Saloon [Great Hall] Robels, 1989: Hella Robels, Frans Snyders: Stilleben- und Tiermaler 1579-1657, Munich 1989, no.A244