An Extensive Wooded Landscape with Travellers on a Path

Private collection

landscape

Jacques d'Arthois specialised in depicting the varied views from the edges of the forest, rather than the bosky forest interior. In the centre of the present autumnal scene, a narrow path leads the viewer's eye to a group of travellers resting. The painting may possibly depict the Soignies area of Hainaut (now Belgium) where Jacques d'Arthois had a home, and the village seen in the distance is perhaps Casteau.

About the Artist

Jacques d' Arthois

1613 – 1686

Jacques d'Arthois (other spellings: Artoes; Artoies; Artois; Artoos; Artoys), Flemish painter, draughtsman and collector. He was apprenticed to Jan Mertens on 11 January 1625 and became a master in the Brussels painters' guild on 3 May 1634. On 10 July 1636 he married Marie Sampels, who bore him eight children. Besides his son Jan Baptist d'Arthois (b. 1638) and his brother Nicolaes d'Arthois (b. 1617), Jacques had six pupils; one of them, Cornelis van Empel, came from Mechelen, indicating that d'Arthois's fame extended beyond his native city. He was made chartered tapestry cartoon designer of the city of Brussels in 1655. At the time of his death he owned several houses and a substantial paintings collection, though an expansive lifestyle had left him severely in debt.

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