Hidden Van Dyck landscape discovered beneath famous horse portrait set to fetch £3m at Christie’s December auction of Old Master paintings.
In a remarkable discovery that has electrified the art world, Anthony van Dyck’s only surviving landscape in oil has been found concealed on the reverse of his masterpiece ‘An Andalusian Horse’.
This extraordinary revelation adds a new dimension to one of the most significant works from the Northern Baroque period, set to headline Christie’s Old Masters Part I Sale this December.
Unprecedented Double Discovery
The discovery occurred during a routine restoration process following the painting’s sale in 2000. When conservators removed the relining canvas, they uncovered an exquisite landscape study on the reverse of the original canvas, marking a watershed moment in art history.
This hidden gem represents the only known surviving oil landscape from van Dyck’s entire artistic career.
The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated, as it provides invaluable insights into van Dyck’s versatility as an artist.
Clementine Sinclair, Christie’s Head of London Old Master Paintings, emphasises the exceptional nature of this find: “We are delighted that this powerful work by one of the greatest artists of the Northern Baroque is returning to Christie’s for sale after over 20 years with the added significance and excitement of van Dyck’s only surviving landscape in oil having been revealed on the reverse of the original canvas in the interim.”
A Masterpiece’s Journey
Created just before van Dyck’s departure for Italy in the autumn of 1621, ‘An Andalusian Horse’ served as a preparatory work for his equestrian portrait of Emperor Charles V, now housed in Florence’s Uffizi Gallery.
This preparatory piece would become the cornerstone of van Dyck’s reputation as Europe’s most sought-after portraitist in the first half of the seventeenth century.
The painting’s provenance adds another layer of distinction to its already impressive history. In 1859, it was acquired by the distinguished collector Thomas Gambier Parry, who secured the piece before the National Gallery could add it to their collection.
The work became the crowning northern piece in Gambier Parry’s remarkable collection at Highnam Court, near Gloucester.
Technical Brilliance and Artistic Innovation
The Andalusian Horse demonstrates van Dyck’s masterful command of his medium. Using a prepared grey ground as his foundation, the artist employed swift brushstrokes in dark brown to define the horse’s outline, followed by generous applications of lead white to capture the animal’s muscular modelling and expressive head.
This technical virtuosity reflects the artist’s early Antwerp period, characterised by rich textures and expressive brushwork that stands in stark contrast to his later, more restrained English court style.
The painting exemplifies van Dyck’s profound appreciation for horses, an affinity documented by André Félibien in his 1685 biography, which recounts how Rubens gifted van Dyck one of his finest horses before the young artist’s Italian sojourn.
The Hidden Landscape: A Rare Glimpse
The newly discovered landscape on the reverse of the canvas depicts a serene scene: a steep, tree-covered bank descending to a lake where a dog drinks. While historical records indicate that van Dyck created five pure landscapes during his time in Antwerp, this is the only surviving example in oil.
Scholars have linked this hidden landscape to the background in his ‘Portrait of a father and son, possibly Joannes Woverius with his son’ (c.1620), currently in the Louvre. This connection provides valuable insight into van Dyck’s working methods and his deep appreciation for natural settings, which is particularly evident in his surviving drawings.
Market Significance and Exhibition
With an estimate of £2,000,000 – 3,000,000, the painting represents a unique opportunity for collectors and institutions to acquire a work of exceptional historical and artistic significance. The piece will be exhibited at Christie’s Paris from 14 to 21 November, before moving to London for the pre-sale exhibition from 29 November to 3 December.
This sale represents not just the auction of a masterpiece, but the opportunity to own a unique piece of art history – a rare instance where one canvas holds two distinct works by one of the most celebrated artists of the Northern Baroque period.
*Images: Christie’s
