Artwork
Landscape, a brook and farm-house among trees

Landscape, a brook and farm-house among trees is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob van Ruisdael. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Landscape, a brook and farm-house among trees is a serene oil painting created by Jacob van Ruisdael around 1665, now part of the Fitzwilliam Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a peaceful natural scene with a central brook, encircled by trees and a distant farm-house, evoking a sense of tranquility and inviting contemplation.
Technique & Style
Van Ruisdael's use of oil paint achieves depth and texture, with visible brushstrokes in the foliage and water, contributing to the overall sense of naturalism and calm.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1665, the work is currently housed at the Fitzwilliam Museum, with its provenance tracing back to the artist's 17th-century output.
Context
This landscape reflects the Dutch Golden Age's emphasis on natural scenery, with the artist's technique possibly influenced by contemporaneous developments in chiaroscuro.
Legacy
While specific influences or direct descendants of this work are not highlighted, it contributes to van Ruisdael's reputation as a prominent Dutch landscape painter of his era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Isaackszoon van Ruisdael was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher. He is generally considered the pre-eminent landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great wealth and cultural achievement when…



















