(Antwerp 1544–1606 Amsterdam)
A hermit reading in a wooded landscape,
oil on canvas, 124 x 131.5 cm, framed

We are grateful to Klaus Ertz for confirming the authenticity of the present painting after having examined it in the original (written communication).

Klaus Ertz writes: ‘The present painting can be said to be in excellent condition. The dotted foliage in the bright marginal zones that is so typical of Coninxloo and lends his altogether dark forests a certain degree of lightness can perfectly be observed in the painting to be assessed here, a characteristic work from the Fleming’s period shortly after 1600. The artist emigrated to Frankenthal and Holland in 1585 and 1603 respectively for religious reasons.’

As to the composition of the forest backdrop, the painting is closely related to a Wooded Landscape dated to 1598 in the collection of the Princes of Liechtenstein. In both paintings, the small figure resting under a tree adds a narrative element to the tranquillity and seclusion of the scene. The delicate nuances of browns and greens and the highlights accentuating the forest clearings create a subtle atmospheric impression that is typical of Coninxloo’s late period. The present painting thus dates from the years around 1600.