In Dutch 17th century inventories these kind of paintings are occasionally described as ‘een grotje’ or grotto. The warm light in this cave illuminates a sarcophagus and a classical column, drawing the attention of the viewer to the details of the relief on the sarcophagus; a group of people and cattle attending a sacrifice ceremony. On the pedestal of the column a figure – an old man in a long cloak holding a stick - is depicted in low relief. He seems to complement the group of people shown on the front side of the sarcophagus. On the foreground the foliage partly covers the ground as well as remains of a classical building, such as capitals and drums of a column On the left side of the well lit sarcophagus the – natural – arches alternate with classical columns and fill the darker part of the composition. The soft beams of light produce shadows on the ground of the grotto. Abraham Van Cuylenborch depicted his fantasy landscape in a cave in which the chosen shapes of the ceiling of the cave, the numerous classical columns as well as the double arch shaped entrance compose a rhythm of light and shadow.

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