Friedrich Brentel (1580 Lauingen - 1651 Strasbourg) attr. or surrounding area Ambush during a stag hunt Extremely dynamic, lively depiction of a courtly hunting party that is ambushed in a forest clearing. While a noblewoman on her horse is shielded by a bodyguard and brought to safety slightly away from the fighting, the men of the courtly guard on the far left try to get the situation under control, while behind the centre of the scene a confusing commotion with numerous soldiers and horses rages. Behind the large oak tree on the right, the hunters do not even seem to have noticed the attack, as they are still fully occupied with killing a stag that they have driven into the river flowing past with the help of the dogs. Executed in extreme detail and vividness, with masterfully nuanced colouring ranging from luminous to subdued and a composition rich in tension, this sheet shows obvious parallels to the works of Friedrich Brentel, who was based in Strasbourg from 1587. He initially trained with his father, the miniature and coat of arms painter Georg Brentel the Elder, and continued his education in the Netherlands. He then ran one of the most famous Strasbourg workshops at the beginning of the 17th century as an etcher, engraver, draughtsman and (miniature) painter, where numerous important artists such as Matthäus Merian and Tobias Franckenberger were trained. Brentel's works enjoyed great popularity among collectors and numerous important commissions for the nobility followed. Nevertheless, only a few of Brentel's works have survived to the present day, which is probably mainly due to the fire in the Strasbourg library in 1870. Gouache/paper, mounted on wooden panel. On the reverse. Paper label with numbering 17. 16.3 cm x 24.1 cm. Frame. Provenance: Dissolution of an important German private collection - Part II. French private collection; Sale Sotheby's New York, 24.01.2008, lot 211 (as Friedrich Brentel attr.). Attributed to or circle of Friedrich Brentel (1580 - 1651). Gouache on paper, laid down on wooden panel.