Artwork
Landscape with a Youth and his Tutor on Horseback
Landscape with a Youth and his Tutor on Horseback is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Aelbert Cuyp. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Classified simultaneously as a landscape and a group portrait, the work centers on the figures within their natural setting rather than the scenery alone.
The painting depicts a landscape scene featuring a man and a horse accompanied by a greyhound, elements associated with hunting activities. Classified simultaneously as a landscape and a group portrait, the work centers on the figures within their natural setting rather than the scenery alone. The composition illustrates a moment of equestrian travel or preparation for the hunt, integrating human subjects with animals in a pastoral environment.
Technique & Style
Landscape with a Youth and his Tutor on Horseback is an oil painting executed on canvas by Aelbert Cuyp. The work, dated to either 1651 or 1653, belongs to the landscape genre while also incorporating elements of a group portrait. It depicts figures including a man and a youth on horseback, accompanied by a greyhound within a hunting scene.
The painting measures approximately 102.5 to 109.2 cm in height and 142.5 to 149.8 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
History & Provenance
Created by Aelbert Cuyp, this oil painting on canvas was executed in 1651. While some records indicate an inception range extending to 1653, the authoritative date for the work is established as 1651. The composition depicts a landscape scene featuring a man, a horse, and a greyhound, combining elements of landscape painting with group portraiture.
Regarding its ownership history, the work was held by Gerald FitzGerald, the 5th Duke of Leinster. It subsequently entered the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland, where it is currently housed. The painting has been associated with Carton House, reflecting its historical location prior to or during its time in the national collection.
Landscape with a Youth and his Tutor on Horseback is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. The work was formerly located at Carton House and was once owned by Gerald FitzGerald, the 5th Duke of Leinster.
No specific inventory or accession numbers are provided in the available sources, nor is there any recorded exhibition history for this painting within the current documentation.
Overview
Aelbert Cuyp’s 1651 oil painting Landscape with a Youth and his Tutor on Horseback presents a tranquil riverine scene populated by riders and a hunting party. Executed in the Dutch Golden Age, the work exemplifies Cuyp’s characteristic use of warm, diffused light to illuminate a pastoral setting, and it now belongs to the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection.
Context
Cuyp’s work reflects the Dutch fascination with bucolic leisure and the idealized countryside during the mid‑seventeenth century. His emphasis on serene light and gentle narrative aligns with contemporary trends that celebrated the harmony between humanity and nature.
Artist & collection
Artist
Aelbert Jacobszoon Cuyp or Cuijp (Dutch pronunciation: ; 20 October 1620 – 15 November 1691) was one of the leading Dutch Golden Age painters, producing mainly landscapes.
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