Years ago, when I worked in London, I had this huge painting in my office. Not the original, of course, but a very large print. It hung on the wall in pride of place and was the first thing that caught the eye of anyone coming in to visit me.
Unfortunately I cannot make it any larger here, because, believe me, it needs to be full size to be better appreciated.
I believe the painting is called September 1585. I can't find any other title, perhaps that's when it was painted by Lucas van Valckenborch, a Flemish painter who lived between 1535 and 1597.
When I started this series of posts about art, the intention was to show various masterpieces which I classified as somewhat unusual or "odd" and see the humourous side behind the work of art. This particular painting is not "odd" in the sense of the word, but I found it at the time somewhat unusual because of the great details that it encompasses.
Look for example at the forefront in the left - people are bringing in a harvest of apples or fruit, and someone is trying to sell them to the two people by the table.
Behind the two men there's a horse drawn cart, a gathering of people and children playing in a circle.
Behind the cart there's a castle scene where people in a boat are trying to catch something hanging off a rope - another sport I suppose.
Then there's the landscape in the background with the castle, the trees, the clouds and the birds in the sky.
In the foreground, there's a feast being laid on a table surrounded by hungry people; and some people playing a game with a ball and a circle.
It's as if every bit of this huge painting is a scene in itself worthy of its own frame as a work of art.
Many a time at work, when I had a difficult managerial problem to solve, I stood infront of this painting to try to clear my head for a moment or two. I'm quite pleased that I have now found it and post it here for you to enjoy.
One thing though ...
I never worked out what that man on the extreme right facing the wall is doing. Any ideas?
