Alexander Casteels the Elder

They mainly sold his works in Central and Eastern Europe where there was a demand for his hunting and battle scenes among the local aristocrats.

[2] He specialised in scenes of cavalry battles and landscapes with hunters and elegant companies.

In this work the artist has taken inspiration from prints produced after the paintings of Antonio Tempesta.

This is visible in the composition, the treatment of the landscape and the arrangement of the horses and riders.

[5] The son of the founder of the Forchondt firm who was living in Vienna specifically requested for small and large-scale battle scenes by Alexander and that of another battle painter active in Antwerp called Pauwels Casteels, possibly a family member, to be sent to Vienna as there was a strong demand for their battle scenes in Central and Eastern Europe.