The Dutch landscape painter Jacob van Ruisdael (c. 1628-1682) raised to the highest level of quality and variety the painting of landscapes based on the observation of the visible world.

Jacob van Ruisdael was born in Haarlem, the son of the painter Isaak van Ruisdael, whose works are unknown to us, and the nephew of the gifted landscape painter Salomon van Ruysdael. Jacob's youthful works reflect the influence of his uncle and other painters of the Haarlem school, who played a leading part in the development of Dutch realistic landscape painting from the early years of the 17th century. He was already an independent master by 1648, when he became a member of the Haarlem guild. Paintings dated as early as 1645 and 1646 confirm that he was an accomplished painter while still very young.

The flat countryside around his native town provided subject matter for Ruisdael's brush again and again...