Private collection Vienna

Surprisingly little is known about the Brussels painter Pieter Bout. It is generally assumed that he was baptized in Brussels on december 5^th 1658. He probably died januari 28 1719 in his place of birth. He enrolled at the Brussels guild of painters in 1671; his teacher is not known. From circa 1672  he spent several years in Paris, where he frequently collaborated with Adriaen Frans Boudewijns, a fellow countryman. Boudewijns painted city- and landscapes, for which Bout painted the figures. He was then active in Brussels, where he married in 1695. He probably visited Italy.

This village fair is a rich and colourful example of his work. The vivid figures on the market scene explain his high esteemed collaboration with colleagues as the mentioned Boudewijns, Lucas Achtschellinck and Jacques d’Arthois.