Adriaan Frans Baudewijns

In the tradition of the urban scenes that the Flemish Primitives used as a backdrop for their sacred scenes, Baudewijns presents us here with a panorama of Brussels viewed from the heights of the Saint-Gilles suburb, likely dating from the late 17th century. In the foreground of the painting, a company of gentlemen, a carriage and a colourful escort enliven the landscape, which is rendered in more subdued tones. In the middle ground, the city of Brussels unfolds, with Saint Nicholas’s Church, the belfry, the tower of the Town Hall and Saint Gudula’s Church to the right. Finally, the massive tower of the Porte de Hal stands imposing amidst the ramparts. The artist plays with the tree-covered masses and orchestrates the different planes to convey the perspective. The atmospheric rendering of nature lends unity to the whole and attests to Rubens’ influence on the painter.

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