Pieter Boddingh van Laer

The support consists of a single, flat, uncradled, stable panel. The paint surface is generally sound but a little thin in some areas and under a dirty, discoloured patchy varnish. Inspection under UV light reveals scattered retouchings throughout, notably to the sky. Offered in a modern gilt wood and plaster frame in very good condition.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Born in Haarlem, it is highly likely that Pieter van Laer studied under the leading landscape painter of his generation, Esaias van de Velde (1587-1630), who was active in Haarlem between 1609 and 1617. Aside from a couple of early works by Van Laer, few works remain which show the discernible influence of his master. Instead Van Laer was to travel to Rome in circa 1625, where he was to develop a lively and independent new style depicting the everyday life of the streets of Rome, with a northern sense of realism. On his arrival he joined the Schildersbent, the colony of Dutch artists resident in Rome, where he was given the sopranome of 'bamboccio' meaning 'rag doll' or 'puppet' (although it is unclear whether this nickname referred to his hunchback or his paintings), but it was soon to be applied to his Dutch Italianate followers, who continued this ground breaking new genre of painting.