The Earthly Paradise
Frédérick Bouttats (Antwerp, 1590-1661)
Painting is Circa 1610-1612
Oil on wood panel, circa 42 7/8 x 29 3/8 (ca. 52 x 39 frame) inches
The inner frame is c18th century with contemporary frame stacked over the earlier frame. 
Provenance:
Private European collection
Sotheby’s Paris
Private Collection; Paris France 
Private collection; United States
 
The painting Earthly Paradise by Frédérick Bouttats (Active 1612-1661, workshop of) is a stunning work of art that captures the beauty and diversity of nature on a single canvas. This 17th century masterwork is an outstanding example of the Flemish Baroque style, characterized by its exuberance, richness and complexity. It is based in part on a famous painting Jan Brueghel the Elder (Brussels, 1568-1625) which was executed in around 1610.
 
The composition of the painting is very interesting, as it presents a wide variety of natural elements, such as trees, flowers, animals and landscapes. The artist uses a layering technique to create a sense of depth and three-dimensionality in the image. The attention to detail is exceptional, and each element is rendered with impressive precision.
 
Color is another prominent aspect of the painting; Bouttats uses a bright, richly saturated color palette to create a sense of vitality and energy in the image. Green, red, and blue tones are particularly vibrant, and are used to represent vegetation, animals, and the sky.
 
The story behind the original Breughel painting is equally as fascinating. It is believed to have been commissioned by Archduke Albert of Austria in the 17th century and has been kept in the collection of the Spanish royal family ever since. The image represents the earthly paradise, a popular theme in religious art of the time. Though the scene seems to be a reference to Genesis 2:8–14 which hosts a variety of animals, presumably 100, from diverse ecosystems. However, the figures seem to be an apparition of the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar (605 BCE-562 BCE) eating grass having been punished by God for his pride.
 
“The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.”

It has also been suggested that the image could have been used as a teaching tool for religious education though the addition of Nebuchadnezzar creates more questions than answers at this point. Clearly, further research is required. 
 
In summary, this painting The Earthly Paradise is an exceptional work of art that combines natural beauty with artistic complexity. Its Flemish Baroque style, its detailed composition, its vibrant color and its fascinating history make it an outstanding painting from the 17th century.
Frédérick Bouttats was born in Antwerp in 1590. He was a pupil of the painter and hart dealer Matthijs Willenhoudt; Bouttats was mentioned as an apprentice. Later, he became a master of the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp in 1612. 
 
Works of art by Frédérick Bouttats can be found in numerous international institutions such as: National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; National Portrait Gallery, London; Royal Collection Trust, United Kingdom; The Morgan Library and Museum, New York City, etc.