Lucas van Valckenborch (1535 or shortly afterwards in Leuven - 1597 Frankfurt/Main) Surroundings Wooded, mountainous river landscape in spring with castle and noblemen On the slope below the castle and overlooking a valley, a courtly company of ladies and gentlemen enjoy the awakening nature, food and the music played for them, always depicted as couples. In the foreground of this finely glazed, richly detailed spring landscape, the viewer can see an outdoor picnic. This motif can also be found in a similar way in a painting dated 1587 for the month of May by Lucas van Valckenborch in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Other couples are also depicted in the margins, including a peasant couple selling their wares to a noble couple. Lucas van Valckenborch initially worked in Mechelen, Liège and Aachen before he met Archduke Matthias, the governor of the Spanish Netherlands, in Antwerp, entered his service and followed him to Linz as a chamber painter. Lucas van Valckenborch finally moved to Frankfurt am Main in 1592/93. As a landscape painter, he was in the tradition of Pieter Brueghel the Elder, and one of his main subjects were paintings of the seasons. Oil/oak panel, old parquetry. 37 cm x 39 cm. Stately frame. The painting is described by the RKD in The Hague as being by Lucas van Valckenborch, 16th century: https:rkd.nl/images/262736. General literature: Alexander Wied: "Lucas und Marten van Valckenborch", Freren 1990. Provenance: Private collection Belgium; Auction Lempertz, Cologne, 17.05.2014, lot no. 117; Dissolution of an important German private collection - part I. Circle of Lucas van Valckenborch (1535 - 1597). Oil on oak panel, cradled. The painting is recorded by the RKD Netherlands Institute for Art History in Den Haag as Circle of Lucas van Valckenborch, 16th century, see RKD archive - https:rkd.nl/images/262736.