Riding School
n.d.
Medium
Black and white chalk, on blue laid paper
Dimensions
15.8 × 23.8 cm (6 1/4 × 9 3/8 in.)
Classification
charcoal
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83845
Art Historical Context
In the intimate drawing *Riding School*, Dutch artist Pieter van Laer captures a lively equestrian scene with black and white chalk on blue laid paper. Dated undated (n.d.) and measuring just 158 × 23.8 cm, this modest sheet from the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection exemplifies van Laer's skill in rendering dynamic figures and animals. Known as "Il Bamboccio" (the Little Child) for his small-scale, humorous depictions of everyday Italian life, van Laer (1595–1642) was a key figure in the Bamboccianti group, blending Dutch realism with Roman Baroque flair during the 17t...