(Belgian, 1819-1893)

Atmospheric view of a 17th century inn with conversant figures around a table, 1856, signed "H.Diddaert 1856", oil on canvas, 22-1/2 x 27-1/4 in.; modern burl veneer plate frame, 28-5/8 x 33-3/8 x 2-1/4 in.

Provenance: The Cider House Galleries Ltd, Bletchingley, January 1, 1991, sold for $6,000 (facsimile of receipt accompanies this lot); Virginia Private Collection

Note: Henri Diddaert was a Belgian genre and interior painter known for capturing scenes of everyday Flemish life in the 19th century. Born in Antwerp, he studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts under Eugene de Block and won early acclaim for his drawing Hercule et Diomede at age 15. His work, often featuring taverns, musical gatherings, and domestic interiors, was praised for its natural lighting and expressive detail. Diddaert exhibited regularly at major Belgian salons from 1845 to 1866 and later with the Cercle artistique de Bruxelles. He remained a respected figure in the Belgian art scene until his death in 1893.