The Great Forest

about 1655/60, Artist: Jacob van Ruisdael

 

 

The Great Forest

Despite the modest motif, Ruisdael painted a “great” forest in the Baroque sense. The mighty oak trees rise to a crest in the centre of the composition, while the light background gives depth to the landscape. With their dwarf-like appearance, the three walkers reinforce the majestic grandeur of nature. The stump in the left foreground serves as a foil and is possibly a reference to the transitoriness of all earthly things. A nephew of Salomon van Ruysdael, Jacob van Ruisdael is considered the most important Dutch landscape painter in the third quarter of the 17th century.

Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Saal XII

Object data

Object Name

Painting

Culture

Dutch

Dated

about 1655/60

Artist

Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/1629 Haarlem - 1682 Amsterdam ?) - GND

Material

Canvas

Dimensions

139 cm × 180 cm
Framed: 162,7 cm × 203,5 cm × 8 cm

Signed

Inscribed at lower right: J v Ruisdael

Image rights

Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Gemäldegalerie

Inv. No.

Gemäldegalerie, 426

Provenance

acquired in 1806

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