Who painted Landscape with a cleft Tree?

Landscape with a cleft Tree was painted by Salvator Rosa in 1654.

Where can I see Landscape with a cleft Tree?

Landscape with a cleft Tree is held by Ashmolean Museum.

What movement is Landscape with a cleft Tree?

Landscape with a cleft Tree is associated with Barbizon school.

Artwork

Landscape with a cleft Tree

Salvator Rosa , 1654

Landscape with a cleft Tree is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Salvator Rosa. It dates from 1654 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum. Created circa 1654, this oil painting presents a solitary, split-trunk tree dominating a modest landscape.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1654, this oil painting presents a solitary, split-trunk tree dominating a modest landscape. The composition places the tree’s expansive branches against a cloudy sky, while its exposed roots emerge from a gently rolling terrain. Muted, earthy tones and a restrained palette give the scene a calm, reflective atmosphere, characteristic of the artist’s approach to natural subjects.

Subject & Meaning

The central motif—a large tree with a pronounced fissure—serves as a symbol of endurance amid adversity, inviting contemplation of nature’s resilience. The surrounding hills and diffuse clouds frame the tree without distraction, emphasizing its solitary presence and suggesting a quiet dialogue between the individual and the broader environment.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil, the work employs chiaroscuro to model the tree’s bark and foliage, creating depth through the contrast of light and shadow. The painter’s brushwork renders the foliage and sky with a softened, almost atmospheric quality, while the earthy palette reinforces the naturalistic tone, aligning with the Baroque interest in dramatic yet controlled representation of the landscape.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the Italian Baroque artist Salvator Rosa, the painting reflects his reputation for portraying rugged, untamed scenery. It entered the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, where it remains on display, offering insight into Rosa’s broader oeuvre of landscape works that combined poetic sensibility with a keen observation of nature.

Artist & collection

Artist

Salvator Rosa

Salvator Rosa (1615 – 15 March 1673) is best known today as an Italian Baroque painter, whose romanticised landscapes and history paintings, often set in dark and untamed nature, exerted considerable influence from the 17th century into…