After Philips Wouwerman, Flemish 1619-1668- Battle scene between Orientals and Europeans; oil on canvas, 53.5x63cm Provenance: Norwood Hall, Sheffield; thence by descent Note: the original painting is held by Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Museumslandschaft Hessen Kassel, Germany, no. GK 361 This work after Wouwerman is typical of the artist's later period from around 1665, which shows a preference for dynamic figure groupings and silvery grey tones. Famous for his skilful depiction of equestrian subjects, cabinet pictures of this size were especially prized in France and Germany during the eighteenth century, so it is likely the present work may have been completed to supply this demand. In this captivating battle scene, many striking and violent poses are adopted, yet the composition still maintains an overall decorative balance. Wouwerman was born in Haarlem, the son of the painter Paulus Wouwerman. The landscapes of Jan Wijnants and Pieter van Laer, who returned to Haarlem from Rome in 1638, where key influences in his later career. Despite the Italianate style of much of Wouwerman’s work, it is unlikely that he ever visited Italy. When Van Laer died, we know Wouwerman acquired some of his sketches and studies. Wouwerman joined the Haarlem painters' guild in 1640, however his work is only dated from 1646 onwards. His oeuvre was prolific, encompassing over one thousand paintings. He was widely admired, both during his life time and long after his death. Please refer to department for condition report