Hippopotamus and Crocodile Hunt

Painted by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (Seigen 1577 - Antwerp 1640) Now in the collections of the Bayerische Staatsgemaldesammlungen, Alte Pinakothek Munich.

This Hunting picture by Sir Peter Paul Rubens listed in Inventory M4/20/126 as The Crocodile(?) is possibly one of the many copies of a painting by Sir Peter Paul Rubens illustrated above. Now in the Munich Pinakothek it was purchased from Rubens by Duke Maximilian 1 of Bavaria (1573-1651). Apart from a period when it was seized by the French commissioner Citoyen Neveu, and taken to Paris between 1800 and 1815, it has stayed in Bavaria. However, as many as 16 copies of this subject matter are recorded by the historian Balis some of which even now are unknown or have been lost.

Hunting paintings such as these on a large scale with such dramatic movement, light and space with strong contrasts and glowing colours were executed by workshop pupils and assistants from colour sketches by Rubens. The illusionistic dramatic construction of the scene with its exuberance and scale, appealing to the emotions of the viewer, makes this Rubens Hunting Scene an encapsulation of the baroque style.

A painting with a similar description is listed in the following inventory:
Hamilton Inventory M4/20/126