After Sebastiaen Vrancx

(17th century)
The battle of Leckerbeetje
Oil on canvas, 117.7 x 164.8 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, the Netherlands
N.B.:
On the 5th of February 1600, a battle took place on the Vughterheide near the city walls, between 22 horsemen of the army of the Arch Duke and 22 of the State army: the Battle of Leckerbeetje. This clash more looked like a Medieval tournament and had a dramatic outcome. It was an absurd incident during the long war and had no militairy nor strategic meaning. The Noordbrabants Museum keeps part of a harness with a bullet hole, that possibly was worn by Gerard Abrahams of Houwelingen, who lost his live during the battle. The fact that this object has survived, shows that the battle very much appealed to the imagination of Vrancx and his contemporaries.