Art

Belgian School (XIX–XX), Mythological Scene with a Female Nude

At auction

H 40 × B 30 cm

Oil on canvas Unsigned A decorative, freely painted composition centred on a female nude seen from behind. With arms raised, she holds a light veil above her head. Various figures surround her, while to the right a horse and a helmeted figure emerge from the dark background. These elements lend the scene a mythological or allegorical character. Warm flesh tones and golden accents glow against a background of deep browns and cool greys. Visible brushstrokes and alternating passages of detailed and sketch-like handling create a sense of movement. Placed within the Belgian School of the nineteenth to twentieth century, the work appeals above all through its theatrical composition and the interplay of figures, light and colour.