Artwork
Hilly landscape
Hilly landscape is an oil painting by Pieter Stalpaert. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1635 by the Flemish-born painter Pieter Stalpaert, *Hilly Landscape* is an oil on canvas that measures a modest size yet conveys an expansive countryside. The work belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it is displayed among other 17th‑century Dutch landscape paintings.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a gently undulating terrain dotted with trees, a modest house, and a few domestic animals. In the foreground a solitary figure stands beside a horse, suggesting a moment of quiet labor or travel. The cloudy sky and warm, golden illumination lend the scene a tranquil, timeless atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Stalpaert employs chiaroscuro to model the hills and foliage, creating a convincing sense of depth. Bold, expressive brushwork renders the texture of foliage and ground, while careful modulation of light and shadow highlights the central figures and the distant architecture. The palette balances cool earth tones with the warm glow of sunlight.
History & Provenance
The painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings in the early 20th century, having passed through several private collections in the Netherlands. Its attribution to Stalpaert, a painter noted for both landscape and marine subjects, was confirmed through stylistic comparison with his signed works.
Context
Stalpaert worked in the Dutch Republic during a period when landscape painting flourished as a genre reflecting national pride and an interest in the natural world. *Hilly Landscape* exemplifies the era’s shift toward more intimate, everyday scenes, moving away from grandiose, mythological settings toward realistic depictions of rural life.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Stalpaert or Peeter Stalpaert (1572 in Brussels – before 1639 in Amsterdam) was a Flemish painter who was active in the Dutch Republic. He is known for his landscape and marine paintings.
