Artwork
Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter
Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter is a gouache painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jacob Savery. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Jacob Savery's Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter, painted on wood in 1590, exemplifies the Northern Renaissance tradition. This work presents a broad landscape scene, incorporating elements of a bustling town alongside natural features. It is currently housed in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, reflecting the artistic currents of the late 16th century in the Low Countries.
Technique & Style
Savery executed this painting on a wood panel, a common support for artworks during the Northern Renaissance.
Savery executed this painting on a wood panel, a common support for artworks during the Northern Renaissance. The composition emphasizes a detailed, expansive landscape, a genre gaining prominence at the time. The artist's palette employs muted blues, browns, and grays, punctuated by occasional brighter accents, contributing to a serene yet intricate depiction of the scene. Tiny figures are integrated throughout, animating the environment without dominating the overall vista.
Subject & Meaning
While titled Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter, the biblical narrative appears as a subtle element within the expansive landscape. The primary focus lies on the detailed depiction of a riverine town, complete with a stone bridge, various buildings, and distant mountains. Everyday life unfolds with small figures engaged in activities like fishing, suggesting a human presence integrated into the natural and built environment rather than a dramatic narrative focal point.
History & Provenance
Jacob Savery, a Flemish artist, received his training in Antwerp before relocating to the Dutch Republic after 1584. This painting, created in 1590, reflects his practice during this period of transition and settlement. The work is now part of the Rijksmuseum's collection, representing a significant example of landscape painting from the Northern Renaissance, a movement that profoundly influenced European art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Savery or Jacob Savery the Elder (1566 – buried 23 April 1603) was a Flemish painter, etcher and draughtsman.
