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| Artist | Attributed to Balen, Jan van (Flemish painter, ca.1611-1654) |
| Title | Noah’s Ark |
| Alternative/previous titles | Noah and the Ark |
| Date earliest | probably about 1625 |
| Date latest | probably about 1650 |
| Material | oil on canvas |
| Measurements | 50.5 x 68.5 cm |
| Description | The Russell-Cotes painting of Noah’s Ark, attributed to Jan van Balen, is typical of the artist’s work. The expansive landscape to the right and the solidly modelled group of elegant figures to the left recall the late sixteenth-century manner of Frans Franken I, while the numerous animals that populate the scene lack the animation of observation from life. Among the animals, numerous exotic species such as camels, elephants, lions and parrots can be observed boarding the ark placed high on a mound to the right. Eight people populate the scene. Noah in the left foreground is recognisable by his white beard. He wears a turban and is accompanied by his wife. The other three men (two on the left and one herding the animals in the landscape) are his sons Shem, Ham and Japheth, they are also accompanied by their wives. |
| Subject | religion (Noah, ark); figure; animal (camel, elephant, lion, parrot, horse, deer, dog, sheep, cow, donkey) |
| Collection | Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth |
| Current accession number | BORGM:2007.94.302 |
| Previous accession number(s) | T1.10.2007.5 |
| Acquisition details | Bequeathed by Joseph Lucas. |
| Notes |
Jan van Balen of Antwerp was the eldest son and pupil of the more famous Hendrick van Balen (1574/75-1632), a successful figure painter, teacher, collaborator and friend of Jan Brueghel the Elder, Jan Brueghel the Younger, Frans Snyders, and Frans Francken I. His son, Jan van Balen, was a friend and occasional collaborator of Peter Paul Rubens. His style reflects that of his father and has some affinities with the work of Frans Franken. |
| Rights status | Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth |
| Author | Francesco Nevola |
