Artwork

Landscape with Rainbow

Landscape with Rainbow, by David Teniers the Younger, oil, 1650
Landscape with Rainbow, by David Teniers the Younger, oil, 1650

Landscape with Rainbow is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist David Teniers the Younger. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The inclusion of the rainbow serves as a central visual motif alongside the human and animal figures, establishing the primary subject matter of the piece.

Created in 1650 by David Teniers the Younger, this oil painting presents a landscape scene defined by the presence of a rainbow. The composition includes specific figural elements, depicting a man accompanied by a dog within the natural setting. As a work of the landscape genre, the imagery focuses on these observable components rather than complex allegorical narratives.

The inclusion of the rainbow serves as a central visual motif alongside the human and animal figures, establishing the primary subject matter of the piece.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil paint on a canvas support, the work measures 28 cm in height and 39.1 cm in width. The handling shows Teniers’ characteristic small, precise brushwork, with careful modulation of light and texture to render foliage and figures. The composition balances a low horizon beneath a luminous sky, where a bright rainbow spans the upper third, anchoring the scene in a calm, naturalistic mood.

The palette favors muted earth tones enlivened by the rainbow’s prismatic hues, which are rendered with delicate, blended strokes to suggest atmospheric transparency.

History & Provenance

Landscape with Rainbow was created by David Teniers the Younger in 1650, executed in oil paint as a landscape composition.

The painting's documented ownership begins with Adolph Thiem, who is recorded as a former owner. It subsequently entered the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, where it is currently held. The work, measuring 28 cm in height by 39.1 cm in width, has been part of this Berlin institution's holdings, with no further details on the transfer between Thiem and the museum provided in the available sources.

The work is held by the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, where it is inventoried as “Landscape with Rainbow” by David Teniers the Younger. It entered the collection through Adolph Thiem and remains in the museum’s holdings.

The painting was shown at the exhibition “Meisterwerke aus der Sammlung Thiem” in 1930, held at the Nationalgalerie, Berlin.

Context

The work entered the collection of Adolph Thiem and remains housed in the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. It exemplifies Teniers' mature approach to landscape, combining meticulous detail with atmospheric effects to convey the fleeting quality of weather. The inclusion of a rainbow alongside a man and dog reflects a recurring compositional motif in his landscapes, underscoring his interest in harmonizing natural phenomena with human and animal presence.

This painting situates Teniers within the broader tradition of 17th-century Dutch landscape painting, where religious and allegorical symbolism often intertwined with observable natural elements.

Overview

Landscape with Rainbow is an oil painting created by David Teniers the Younger around 1650. It is a serene landscape scene held at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

Hilly landscape
Hilly landscape, Pieter Stalpaert

Artist & collection

Portrait of David Teniers the Younger

Artist

David Teniers the Younger

David Teniers the Younger or David Teniers II was a Flemish Baroque painter, printmaker, and artist.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Gemäldegalerie Berlin open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Landscape with Rainbow?

Landscape with Rainbow was painted by David Teniers the Younger in 1650.

Where can I see Landscape with Rainbow?

Landscape with Rainbow is held by Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

What movement is Landscape with Rainbow?

Landscape with Rainbow is associated with Flemish Baroque painting.