Adriaen, the older brother of Isaak van Ostade, was a prolific and talented painter, drawer and etcher. According to his biographers, he was a pupil of Frans Hals and Adriaen Brouwer in Haarlem; whether this was true or not, his style and predilection for genre scenes were indisputably influenced by his two compatriots. He initially preferred to depict lifestyle scenes of peasant farmers, before taking an interest later on in his career in the petty bourgeoisie.

Towards the end of his career, Adriaen van Ostade devoted himself mainly to the production of highly accomplished drawings in gouache and watercolours.

With a finish to rival that of a painting, these drawings were avidly sought after by a well-informed clientele, captivated by the finish and attractiveness of this technique.
This composition - a gathering underneath a trellised vine - features in Ostade’s work on several occasions.

As was often the case with this master, there is a pleasant sense of good-heartedness among the people, who are cheerfully assembled to listen to music, play cards, drink, smoke and chat.

Summery and serene nature harmonizes with this atmosphere of joyful rusticity.

S. R. de B.

City of Paris municipal collection's website

City of Paris municipal collection's website

The collections portal can be used to search the collections of Paris’s 14 municipal museums (approximately 336,000 works, including 43,000 belonging to the Petit Palais).

It is also possible to download around 12,000 images of the museum’s works free of charge.

Access the Museums of the City of Paris collections portal
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Extern databases

Discover a selection of databases online presenting works from the Petit Palais or documents concerning the history of the museum.