A Barn with Sheep and Chickens Signed and dated 1878 lower right Signed, dated 1878, annotated Schaarbeek Bruxelles and authenticated on a label attached to the reverse Oil on panel, 32.2 x 40 cm Provenance: - T. Richardson Fine Art Galleries, London - Private collection, Scotland Note: Verboeckhoven was an excellent painter of animals. Together with his pupils, he appears to have been the last link to a secular tradition with its roots deep in the seventeenth century, which linked observation of nature, studied composition, and idealised reproduction of reality. Verboeckhoven mainly painted cattle in their natural environment, enlivened by an intense chiaroscuro. Like the Old Masters, Verboeckhoven obtained the colour blue for his skies by grinding down lapis lazuli. The prolific artist was very meticulous in his preparation: hundreds of sketches and studies were produced on the spot, assembling different elements like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. Please note: condition reports and additional photos are available upon request. For more information: info@aagauctioneers.com