Title

Having One's Fortune Told

Author

Teniers, David (II) [attributed to]

Antwerp, 1610 - Brussels, 1690

Typology

School

Century

Dimensions

Technique

Support

Observations

Having One's Fortune Told by David Teniers the Younger, housed in the Museo Lázaro Galdiano in Madrid, showcases the Flemish master’s talents both as a landscape artist and his ability to capture the everyday life of the lower classes. Signed "D.T." and dated around the 1640s-1650s, it depicts a typical scene from the Flemish pictorial tradition of the time, in which a gypsy woman tells the fortune of a member of the upper class.

In this work, the gypsy fortune teller reads the future of an aristocratic figure in a landscape that is both idyllic and mysterious. The scene unfolds near a cave, under the shadow of a rocky arch, while the golden evening light softly illuminates the group. This interplay of light, where the figures stand out against a dark background, attests to Teniers' mastery of tonal management and contrasts. The archetype of the cave, with its intertwined roots and fantastical ridges—juxtaposed with a wild nature—contrasts with the small figures of sheep and shepherds in the peaceful plain stretching out beyond.

The motif of the fortune teller and the consultation of the future by gypsies was already a recurring theme in 17th-century Flemish painting, notably in the works of Jan Bruegel the Elder. Teniers, influenced by artists like Joos de Momper, employs a technique similar to that of the latter, particularly in the depiction of rock formations and the thick brushstrokes of white paint along the edges of the rocks, creating a striking texture.

This painting belongs to a period when Teniers focused on the representation of nature and light, while also developing a taste for genre scenes. Here, the artist succeeds in combining the splendor of a northern landscape with the intensity of human interaction, offering a picturesque and almost idyllic view of the lives of these marginalized figures. The painting is also a valuable testament to the customs and beliefs of the time, offering a striking vision of the daily life of the gypsies, often seen as mystical figures and bad omens.

Having One's Fortune Told was part of the prestigious collections of M. Tencé and Sedelmeyer before entering the collection of José Lázaro Galdiano. The painting is currently on display in Room 17 of the Museo Lázaro Galdiano (November 2024).

Related links

Bibliography

• L. Arbeteta (ed.) (2003): Grandes maestros del museo Lázaro Galdiano, Fundación Pedro Barrié de la Maza, La Coruña, pp. 118-119.
• (1907): Catalogue de tableaux composant la Collection CH. Sedelmeyer, vol. 3, Galerie Sedelmeyer, Paris, pp. 61-62, il. 63.

Locations

• 1881: Collection M. Tencé, Lille (France)
• 1881 - 1907: Collection Sedelmeyer, Paris (France)
• 1907: Museo Lázaro Galdiano, Madrid (Spain)