Adrien de Montigny (French, C1570-1615), The Château of Houdain

Adrien de Montigny (French, C1570-1615)The Château of HoudainThe Château of Houdain was a square-plan fortress surrounded by a moat. It had a tower on each corner and a wooden drawbridge leading across the moat. To the left of the château was the farmyard and storage buildings and a small pond. Of this complex there remain only several vestiges today, mainly hidden by modern constructions.Watercolor and gouache on vellum1596 - 1598Vellum size: 20 ½ x 15 ¼ in.  Frame size: 26 x 21 in.   SHOWING RENAISSANCE ESTATES AND NATURAL HISTORY SUBJECTS BY ADRIEN DE MONTIGNY (c1570-1615)ORIGINALLY FROM THE COLLECTION OF CHARLES DE CROŸ,FOURTH DUKE OF AARSCHOT   Adrien de Montigny was a painter from Valenciennes in northern France. While few records remain, we do know that his magnum opus was the collection of vellums he created for the Duke de Aarschot Charles de Croÿ. Therefore, he was likely the Duke’s court painter. Adrien de Montigny, whose name often appears at the head of the albums and in