DOI chapter:
Painters, Sculptors, Architects, Engravers, and their Works
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61295#0585
TENIERS.
563
fifty pictures, imitating those of Italian masters, with the painter and
the Archduke conversing in the foreground. His sacred subjects
are his least meritorious works; he excelled in guard-house scenes,
peasant life in every aspect, representations of the alchemist, in
which he is unequalled, and fairs and festivals of all sorts. His
light, brilliant touch, his exquisite coloring, especially in detail, and
his picturesque arrangement are perfection; his fault is a monotony
in heads and a certain coldness in feeling; on account of this
monotony, his best pictures are those with fewest figures. His works
PICTURE BY TENIERS.
Madrid Gall.
are so numerous and so excellent, that it is very difficult to mention a
small number and do him any good degree of justice. The Louvre,
Vienna, Munich, and Madrid galleries are richer in his best works
than other public collections; there are fine pictures of his in private
galleries in England. Smith describes 900 pictures by him which
may be counted on as genuine, and 100 more at least are known.
Some of his works are large, but the most are of medium and small
sizes. One at Schleissheim wasAthirteen and a half by ten feet, and
contained 1138 figures; others have from 150 to 300 figures. His
pictures sell for very large sums, and are in all large galleries. As
563
fifty pictures, imitating those of Italian masters, with the painter and
the Archduke conversing in the foreground. His sacred subjects
are his least meritorious works; he excelled in guard-house scenes,
peasant life in every aspect, representations of the alchemist, in
which he is unequalled, and fairs and festivals of all sorts. His
light, brilliant touch, his exquisite coloring, especially in detail, and
his picturesque arrangement are perfection; his fault is a monotony
in heads and a certain coldness in feeling; on account of this
monotony, his best pictures are those with fewest figures. His works
PICTURE BY TENIERS.
Madrid Gall.
are so numerous and so excellent, that it is very difficult to mention a
small number and do him any good degree of justice. The Louvre,
Vienna, Munich, and Madrid galleries are richer in his best works
than other public collections; there are fine pictures of his in private
galleries in England. Smith describes 900 pictures by him which
may be counted on as genuine, and 100 more at least are known.
Some of his works are large, but the most are of medium and small
sizes. One at Schleissheim wasAthirteen and a half by ten feet, and
contained 1138 figures; others have from 150 to 300 figures. His
pictures sell for very large sums, and are in all large galleries. As