MIEL, Jan
(b. 1599, Beveren-Was, d. 1663, Torino)

Carnival Time in Rome

1653
Oil on canvas, 68 x 50 cm
Museo del Prado, Madrid

In picturesque scenes from the street life of Rome and of villages in the Campagna, Jan Miel shows an affinity with the genre scenes of Pieter van Laer who was the actual creator of the 'bambocciata' genre in Rome. About the 1640s onwards he expanded his subject matter, which was originally strictly based on Van Laer's repertoire, with new subjects of his own invention, and with more dramatic settings. Among these are particularly the lively scenes of carnival and masked commedia dell' arte actors, such as the Carnival Time in Rome.