Fight between Bears and Hounds

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The picture shows a fight between dogs and three brown bears in a wild rocky landscape, which is reminiscent of the sort of landscape which Salvatore Rosa painted and which was often imitated in the 17th century. The animals are painted with brilliance and wonderful precision and prove that after a profound study of the Flemish animal painters Ruthart continued still further in this direction and perfected his motifs by a study of zoological books.

Artist Carl Ruthart

Year of creation 1667

Technique oil, canvas

Dimensions 94 x 125 cm

Inventory number private collection

Collection 1600–1700

Preservation: Good. Painted on bolus.
Provenance: Attems collection, Slovenska Bistrica, until confiscation 1945; entered in the FCC records on p. 205, No. 6341: “Scene with Bears and Dogs, 125 x 93 cm, 18C.” On the back of the canvas at the bottom left in Indian ink: F. C. 111, on the stretcher at the top left: 6341 and 185/92.– Entrusted by the Government of Slovenia to the Narodna galerija 1986.
Exhibition: 1993, Ljubljana, No. 60.
Lit.: Zeri and Rozman 1993, pp. 121, 176, Cat. No. 60, Fig. 57.