Object Image

The innkeeper, standing in front of his tavern next to empty wine barrels, seems like a typical stock figure from Teniers’ genre scenes. But contradicting his everyday appearance is the grapevine wreath around his head that recalls the Roman god Bacchus.

The painting probably represents an allegory of autumn as the composition is based on several series of the Four Seasons that Teniers painted on copper. It is similar to the Autumn from the series in the National Gallery, London and much closer to one sold at Christies’ in Amsterdam (20. November 2012, Lot 26).The golden landscape in the background with a peasant bringing in the harvest supports the identification with this season.

Noel Desen...

c.1635-90
Oil on canvas
67.0 x 42.9cm
DPG341
Image and text © Dulwich Picture Gallery, 2019

Where you'll find this

Dulwich Picture Gallery
Permanent collection