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A rocky landscape with figures by an iron foundry, a river and houses on the bank beyond
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A rocky landscape with figures by an iron foundry, a river and houses on the bank beyond
3504152 A rocky landscape with figures by an iron foundry, a river and houses on the bank beyond (oil on panel) by Ryckaert, Marten (1587-1631); 30.2x50.2 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Long claimed to be the oldest painting of a blast furnace and finery in Europe (Historical Metallurgy Society, 2011, op. cit.). Evrard notes that the depicted furnace is a pyramidal tower with a broad, flat opening, some five or six metres high (to judge by the relative height of the figures). It is built of hewn stone, with a stone stairway built up against one side, which provides access to the inlet at the top ( gueulard ).
The Walloon Method is one of the most important developments in the history of the industrial production of iron, named after the Walloon region of present-day Belgium. The Method consisted of making pig iron in a blast furnace, followed by refinement in a finery forge. The process was devised in the LiAge region and soon spread into France, the Low Countries and thence to England, finding employment there before the end of the fifteenth century. In the early-seventeenth century, it was taken to RAoslagen in Sweden by Louis de Geer, who attracted Walloon ironmakers to the new works there; iron made there by the Walloon Method was known in England as oregrounds iron, and by the eighteenth century was regarded as the best grade of iron available. The technical breakthrough came at a moment when all eyes were on the iron industry. European rulers sent their armies far and wide in the defence of competing territorial claims both on the Continent and, with the discovery of the Americas in 1492, in the New World, and with the technology and thus the terms of battle rapidly changing, all the players were engaged in a bitterly contested arms race - stronger armour or more fearsome firepower could give the winning side just the edge it needed. The invention of a process which produced higher-grade iron in Wallonia placed the region in the limelight. Possession of the Wallonian territories came to be a valuable asset. In the early-sixteenth century, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V took pains to secure the rocky plains of Wallonia, rich in natural resources and the technical skills of its inhabitants. ); Photo eChristies Images; Flemish, out of copyright
Media ID 23013794
© Christie's Images / Bridgeman Images
Blacksmith Blast Furnace Casting Chimney Cliff Cliffs Cottages Craft Crafts Earliest Forge Foundry Furnace Girder Girders Iron Labourers Melting Molten Panorama Panoramic Production Profession Refinery Rocky Rugged Rustic Smithy Technique Craftsman Daily Life Scene Iron Foundry Labourer Smoking Chimney
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This print showcases a rocky landscape with intriguing figures by an iron foundry, accompanied by a serene river and houses on the bank beyond. Painted by Marten Ryckaert in the 17th century, this oil on panel artwork measures 30.2x50.2 cm and is currently held in a private collection. Considered to be one of Europe's oldest depictions of a blast furnace and finery, this painting sheds light on the significant Walloon Method in the industrial production of iron. Originating from present-day Belgium, this method involved creating pig iron in a blast furnace followed by refinement in a finery forge. It quickly spread across France, the Low Countries, and eventually reached England during the fifteenth century. The technical breakthrough offered by the Walloon Method was particularly crucial during this era when European rulers were engaged in fierce territorial disputes both within their own continents and across newly discovered lands like America. As battles became more technologically advanced, possessing higher-grade iron could provide armies with an essential advantage. Wallonia's possession became highly sought after due to its rich natural resources and skilled inhabitants who mastered these innovative techniques for producing superior quality iron. In fact, Wallonian territories were fiercely contested as they provided valuable assets for those seeking dominance. This extraordinary artwork not only captures an enchanting scene but also offers insights into historical advancements that shaped industries and influenced power struggles during that time period.
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