Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Philips Wouwerman died in 1668; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1738.
In context
The Stable — Philips Wouwerman
The original measures 34 × 44 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 49 at death.
Shaded: the lifetime of Philips Wouwerman (1619–1668) every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1648 Main working years: 1648–1658 Late works: from 1658
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/philips-wouwerman-the-stable-D7BJDD-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Black #180e09
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 86.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 58 works by this artist, of which 24 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
About this artwork
The Stable — Philips Wouwerman
A boy leads a white horse into the stable as a storm is brewing outside. Inside the stable is a brown horse drinking out of a bucket and a stable boy fetching more hay. In the background, a man and a boy brave the bad weather. Although Philips Wouwerman was first and foremost known as a landscape painter, he was also renowned by his contemporaries for his unique ability to paint horses with great precision and accuracy. The anatomy and movement patterns of horses are brought into focus in his travellers’ stable paintings, while the surrounding landscape often merely serve as the outer framework for the scene. They can accordingly be regarded as animal studies rather than actual landscape paintings. In this work, the white and brown horse also take prominent places in the composition of the painting, while the bleak landscape help lend a certain depth and mood to the scene.
Artist and museum
Born in Haarlem, Netherlands
Born: Haarlem, Netherlands (1619)
Died: 1668
Philips Wouwerman (baptized May 24, 1619 – died May 19, 1668) was a highly prolific and versatile Dutch painter renowned for his depictions of hunting scenes, landscapes, and battle scenes. He stands as a significant figure within the artistic landscape of the Dutch Golden Age.
Born in Haarlem, Netherlands, Philips Wouwerman was the son of Pouwels Joostsz Wouwerman, also a painter, though less known than his son. Details regarding his early artistic training are somewhat scarce. However, it is believed that he studied under Frans Hals (1581/85–1666), a prominent Haarlem portraitist. While Hals’s distinctive style did not heavily influence Wouwerman's mature work, the foundational training likely proved invaluable. Early in his career, Wouwerman was influenced by the bamboccianti tradition, particularly the works of Pieter van Laer (1592/99–after 1642), adopting their focus on everyday life and genre scenes.
Early Influences: Initially emulating bamboccianti painters, Wouwerman’s early works featured depictions of daily life.
Emerging Style (Mid-1640s): A characteristic compositional element emerged – a diagonal slope of land often accompanied by a tree acting as a repoussoir (a device used to create depth). Figures, frequently accompanied by horses, populated these scenes.
Mature Period (c. 1650-1660): Wouwerman developed his individual style, expanding his subject matter considerably. He painted genre scenes, landscapes with travelers, cavalry battles, military encampments, and festive gatherings of peasants.
Mastery of the Horse: Wouwerman is particularly celebrated for his exceptional skill in depicting horses of various breeds in dynamic motion. Art historian Frederik J. Duparc has famously called him "undoubtedly the most accomplished and successful 17th-century Dutch painter of horses."
Characteristic Features: His paintings are characterized by subdued colors, a cool atmosphere, and meticulous attention to detail, creating witty and anecdotal narratives within his scenes. He often combined imaginary southern landscapes with a distinctly Dutch ambiance.
Wouwerman’s works were highly sought after during his lifetime and continued to gain popularity in the 18th century. His paintings found their way into prominent collections across Europe, including those of princely houses in Dresden and St. Petersburg, demonstrating widespread admiration for his artistry.
Prolific Output: Wouwerman was remarkably prolific; early catalogues listed around 800 works attributed to him, later exceeding 1200. A more recent catalogue raisonné (Schumacher, 2006) identifies approximately 570 authentic works, acknowledging the numerous followers and imitators who produced works in his style.
Family of Artists: His brothers, Jan (1629–1666) and Pieter (1623–1682), were also painters, often initially attributed to Philips. While Pieter’s work clearly reflected Philips' influence, he developed a distinct style. Jan was recognized as a more autonomous landscape painter.
Influence on Later Artists: Wouwerman’s style influenced numerous artists, including Jan van Huchtenburgh (1647–1733), the brothers Jan Frans and Joseph van Bredael (1688–1739), and Carel van Falens (1683–1733).
Guild Membership & Civic Role: He was a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, holding several official positions within it. Beyond his artistic pursuits, Wouwerman also served as an estate agent in Haarlem, reflecting his involvement in civic life.
Philips Wouwerman’s contribution to the Dutch Golden Age lies in his ability to capture a wide range of scenes – from bustling marketplaces and hunting expeditions to dramatic battlefields and tranquil landscapes – with remarkable detail and dynamism. His mastery of depicting horses, combined with his keen eye for anecdotal storytelling, solidified his place as one of the most celebrated and influential painters of his time. A retrospective exhibition in Kassel and The Hague (2009/2010) further highlighted his enduring legacy.
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Look closely
The Stable — Philips Wouwerman
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
"The Stable" is available as a fine art print on cotton canvas or archival canvas paper. Orders are placed on its Fine Art Print page, in the size of your choice.
In "The Stable" by Philips Wouwerman, the Dutch Golden Age Realism movement meets the Early-Modern era.
Philips Wouwerman's recurring themes include dutch realism, van laer influence, rural labor, everyday life, weather's impact, vulnerability, horse mastery, animal studies; "The Stable" focuses on horse painting, stable scene, rural life, stormy weather, dutch art, animal studies, golden age, landscape.