Lot 84: A BELGIAN GRISAILLE PAINTED BOX 'BOIS DE SPA', ANTOINE LE LOUP (1730-1802), SPA, MID 18TH CENTURY

A BELGIAN GRISAILLE PAINTED BOX 'BOIS DE SPA', ANTOINE LE LOUP (1730-1802), SPA, MID 18TH CENTURY
shaped rectangular, the gently domed lid painted with a scene of a mounted hunting party watering their horses by a bridge in an Italianate landscape, the sides with further classical landscapes including buildings, ruins and a harbour, the angles with memorial urns on pedestals, interior later lined with floral wreath patterned cream silk, lid signed lower left 'antoine le Loup Fecit'
30.5cm wide, 20.5cm deep, 11cm high
Christened 'Le Café de l'Europe' by the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II after a visit in 1781, the summer season in the small Ardennes town of Spa thronged with Kings, Princes, nobles and all who could afford it from across the Continent. The main source was named after Peter the Great, who visited in 1721, and Europe's first casino opened in 1761; the second casino and assembly halls of 1770 was named 'Le Waux-Hall' after London's famous pleasure grounds. Naturally a trade in luxury goods, souvenirs and 'les jolités' flourished, including the speciality 'Bois de Spa' (or sometimes 'Boites de Spa'), lacquered boxes often painted with views of the town and surroundings.
Antoine Le Loup, a native of Spa and known for finely detailed monochrome views, often on parchment mounted onto boxes, was the son of Remacle Le Loup, another landscape artist. His work also apparently featured on a Meissen dinner service, to be found towards the end of the 18th century for sale at a shop in Spa under the sign of 'Le Cavalier' ( His neighbour, a priest, recorded that he was still at work painting when he died alone at eight in the evening, isolated from friends and family, on 21st November 1802 ( accessed 12.10.11).