Circle of Pieter Van Laer 1599-1642 Dutch School 17th.Century Red chalk drawing Circa.1630. 14.5 by 15.2 cms.
Van Laer was a Dutch born artist who spent most of his career in Rome. Nicknamed 'il Bamboccio' (the clumsy one) after a physical deformity. He was one of the leaders of the Schildersbent, a Guild established by the Netherlandish painters in Rome to protect their interests. Van Laer was the first artist to specialise in scenes of street life in Rome. His work was popular and his many followers were called 'Bamboccianti' He returned to his native Haarlem in 1638.