Workshop of Carstian Luyckx (1623–1658)

Workshop of Carstian Luyckx (1623–1658)

Still Life with Dogs

Oil on canvas, 102 x 125 cm - With frame, 124 x 148 cm

This painting, clearly traceable to the 17th-18th century Dutch or Flemish tradition and attributed to the workshop of Carstian Luyckx (or Kerstiaen Luyckx, 1622–1675), presents itself as a fascinating and lively scene of hunting dogs immersed in a landscape. Carstian Luyckx (1623 – c. 1675), also known as the Monogrammist KL, was a prolific Flemish painter from Antwerp, specializing in a wide range of still life subgenres. He became a master of the Guild of Saint Luke in 1645, having studied with the still life specialist Philips de Marlier and the history painter Frans Francken III. His work encompassed floral, fruit, and fish still lifes, sumptuous still lifes (pronkstilleven), and vanitas pieces, as well as hunting scenes and garland paintings. Luyckx demonstrated versatility by also painting animals and some genre scenes, influenced by Jan Fyt and Frans Snyders for hunting subjects. It is believed that after 1653, Luyckx worked in France, where his later works with French inscriptions influenced other artists, such as Simon Renard de St. André. He often worked collaboratively, as in the case of a Kitchen Still Life with David Teniers the Younger and Nicolaes van Verendael. Despite his success during his lifetime, Luyckx fell into obscurity after his death. The work is dominated by the presence of a large, honey-colored greyhound, sitting proudly in the center. Its posture is regal and attentive; its gaze is directed towards the right, suggesting a vigilance over the surrounding landscape or the anticipation of a hunting signal. Around the large dog, the foreground is animated by a group of Cocker Spaniels or retrievers, recognizable by their white coats spotted with brown and their long, drooping ears. Some puppies are nestled on the ground, creating a sense of intimacy and rest between one generation of dogs and the next. Their gaze, gentler and more curious than that of the greyhound, creates a pleasant visual and thematic contrast between the running animal and the companion or tracking dogs. To the right, in shadow and strong chromatic contrast, a dark dog is visible, perhaps a hound or a bloodhound, resting on the ground, adding depth and mystery to the composition. The landscape is typical of hunting scenes and animal portraits of the era. In the background on the right, a large dark tree with a thick canopy serves as a backdrop and a contrasting element against the sky, while on the left, wild thistles rise dramatically, a rustic note that anchors the scene to the wilderness. The sky is expansive, dominated by a beautiful lapis lazuli blue interspersed with soft white clouds that add luminosity. Another version of this painting has been identified on the antique market, as well as several instances of the same hound or the same landscape passage in other paintings by the same artist. Overall, the work reflects the great skill and taste for detail and naturalistic observation that characterized the followers of specialized animal portrait artists like Karstian Luyckx. The rich detail of the fur, the realistic anatomy of the dogs, and the dynamism of the composition, framed by a rich gilded frame, make this painting a fascinating homage to country life and the importance of dogs in the hunting activities of the high society of the time.

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