Peeter van der Borcht

This intricate little landscape scene shows two riders tearing along at full gallop and blowing on their hunting horns. Behind them extends a carefully rendered river landscape, whose charm lies in its almost miniaturistic attention to detail. We discern picturesque farm buildings and turrets, and cattle reposing in the meadow. In the middle distance a broad river winds its way through various bends to the horizon. Along its banks can be seen the towers, domes and roofs of a scenic town, the silhouette of which is overlooked by two windmills standing on a hill. A bizarrely shaped mountain peak forms the backdrop to this “world landscape”. In view of its typology it is not surprising that this little landscape has in the past been associated with Hans Bol. However, Hans Mielke has convincingly attributed it to Peeter van der Borcht (“Radierer um Bruegel”, Pieter Bruegel und seine Welt, Berlin 1979, p. 64). The etching is of great rarity: Ursula Mielke records a total of four impressions in Amsterdam, El Escorial, Leiden and Wolfegg (The New Hollstein, p. 247).

An excellent impression with margins around the platemark. Slightly foxed and soiled, some very minor defects, otherwise in very good condition.