_Adam Frans van der Meulen_ (Flemish: 1632-1694).
This painter, a native of Brussels, had a great facility
in battlepieces. Some of these found their way to France,
and attracted the notice of the painter Le Brun. On his
recommendation Van der Meulen was invited to the French
Court, and was at first employed on designs for the Gobelins
tapestries. Afterwards he accompanied Louis XIV. on his
campaigns, and, brush in hand, was present at all the principal
sieges and battles of that monarch. These he afterwards
painted for the King; he also depicted many hunting scenes
and cavalcades. His works are to be seen at the Louvre and
Versailles.
The present picture (signed, and dated 1662) shows us some such scene
in the life of the Court. The suite is bareheaded, and it is clearly
some personage of importance--possibly Louis XIV. himself--who is
seated at the window of the carriage. The background of open country
with blue distance is very pleasantly rendered.