Landscape by Moonlight, Rubens

A major late nocturne landscape by Peter Paul Rubens. The work is of great importance in the context of Ruben's oeuvre and, later, for the development of English landscape painting. It was owned by Sir Joshua Reynolds, who used it in his Eighth Discourse, and was known and admired by Constable, Gainsborough and others. One of a collection of paintings and Old Master drawings bequeathed by Count Antoine Seilern to the Home House Society (Courtauld Institute) The bequest brought ensuing tax debts for the Executors and several paintings were put up for auction.