A Seven-Part Decorative Sequence: An Outdoor Stairway 1630 - 1632

Dirck van Delen painted "An Outdoor Stairway" sometime in the 17th century, likely using oil paints on canvas. The way the artist captured the light and shadow tells us a lot about the material realities of the time. The columns are rendered with a smooth, almost marble-like finish, while the figures are meticulously detailed, showcasing the fashions of the Dutch Golden Age. The texture of the paint itself adds depth to the scene, making it feel almost palpable. Painting in this manner, and at this scale, would have been a time-consuming, and expensive endeavor. Van Delen’s skill in rendering the opulence of the scene reflects not only his artistic talent, but the social and economic structures of the time, where wealth and status were prominently displayed through art and architecture. It blurs the line between fine art and decoration, suggesting how closely intertwined these categories were in the 17th century.