Artwork
Pastoral Landscape with Ruins
Pastoral Landscape with Ruins is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Adriaen van de Velde. It dates from 1664 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Accession no.
- 863
- Credit line
- Sidney A. Kent Fund
About this work
He borrowed cattle poses from Paulus Potter’s work and sunny Italian views from Nicolaes Pietersz.
Adriaen van de Velde painted Pastoral Landscape with Ruins in 1664. The scene shows cows resting near a crumbling stone arch under a golden summer sky. A few people lounge nearby, adding to the calm feel.
Van de Velde balanced real studies with idealized beauty. He borrowed cattle poses from Paulus Potter’s work and sunny Italian views from Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem. The mix made this picture feel both lively and peaceful.
Want to see more like this? Check out works by Paulus Potter.
Overview
Adriaen van de Velde's 'Pastoral Landscape with Ruins' is an oil on canvas painting created in 1664, depicting a serene Italian countryside scene.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows cows resting near a ruined stone arch under a warm summer sky, accompanied by lounging figures, evoking a sense of rural innocence and peace that would have resonated with urban Dutch audiences.
Technique & Style
Van de Velde achieved a harmonious balance by combining life studies of the landscape with studio sketches of cattle and figures, drawing on the influences of Paulus Potter and Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem to create an idealized yet lively scene.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Adriaen van de Velde, was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and print artist. His favorite subjects were landscapes with animals and genre scenes. He also painted beaches, dunes, forests, winter scenes, portraits in…
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