Rombouts VAN TROYEN (Amsterdam 1605-1656) People in a landscape, 1648 Oak panel, two boards, not parqueted Signed and dated lower left "1648 / RVTroyen". (Label on reverse) 36x49cm Provenance: According to the inscriptions on the labels on the reverse of the panel: - Probably collection du prince Charles de Lorraine then probably collection Latouche-Treville then probably collection de l'Impératrice Josephine; - Anonymous sale, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, March 5, 1986, no. 121; - Anonymous sale, Lyon, Brotteaux (Maître Anaf), October 22-23, 1989. Transcription of the two labels affixed to the reverse of the panel: 1. [...] et curieux par le sujet [...] appartenu au Prince Charles de Lorraine. It was painted by Troyen, a German painter who was sent to Egypt in 1640 by Emperor Leopold to paint the most curious things he would see there. He knew this all the way to Upper Egypt, where he managed to break into the catacombs. The subject of this painting is taken from a bas-relief he found there. This painting belonged to Count [...] Latouche-Treville and Empress Josephine. [...]. 2. This painting, seen as one of the rarest in Europe for the subject it represents, comes from the cabinet of the late Prince Charles de Lorraine: the German painter named Troyen, who painted it, was sent in 1640 by Emperor Leopold to Egypt to paint what was most curious, he may be in Upper Egypt or under the tombs of the ancient kings of the country, a place where few Europeans have been because the Turks believed that these places contain treasures of price, nor let any foreigner enter, so he painted the catacombs where are the tombs, most of which are inlaid with lapis lazuli. The places where there are smoking lamps are the tombs of the most revered kings, and we also see death with bat wings on his [...] and a scythe in his hand. At the front of the picture is the hierophant or high priest with the uddered ox and a queen, believed to be Cleopatra, who is having a sacrifice made, and in the sky mercury very [...] one of the ancient kings of Egypt who comes to honor the sacrifice. The painter has taken this subject from a [...] bas-relief in the catacombs for anyone with a little knowledge of Hermetic art. The painting is full of enigmas concerning the philosopher's stone.