Artwork
The Travelers
The Travelers is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Meindert Hobbema. It dates from 166 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: m .hobbema . f 166[2?]
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas in 1662, the work measures 101 × 145 cm. Stylistically it belongs to Hobbema's mature manner: a broad, sunlit road bisects the composition diagonally, flanked by dense oak and beech foliage. Figures and carts are subordinated to the play of light and shadow across the undulating terrain, conveying a quiet, episodic narrative within a structured landscape schema.
History & Provenance
The work appeared at auction in Amsterdam (5 July 1833), then passed to Colonel Biré in Brussels before being sold in Paris (25–26 March 1841).
The painting, dated 1662, is an oil-on-canvas landscape by Meindert Hobbema. Its earliest recorded owner was Gosen Geurt Alberda van Dyksterhuys, who possessed it at his Groningen estate by 1829; after his death it was acquired jointly by R. Gockinga and P. van Arnhem. The work appeared at auction in Amsterdam (5 July 1833), then passed to Colonel Biré in Brussels before being sold in Paris (25–26 March 1841).
It entered the collection of William Williams Hope, was resold at Christie's London (14–16 June 1849), later offered at Pouchet Paris (11 May 1858), and entered the Dudley family at Witley Court by 1871. After remaining with the 1st and 2nd Earls of Dudley, it was sold at Christie's London (25 June 1892), handled by P. & D. Colnaghi, and acquired by Peter A. B. Widener in 1894. The painting descended through the Widener estate and was gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1942.
Context
Meindert Hobbema, a pupil of Jacob van Ruisdael, is recognized for the wooded vistas that capture the ordered countryside of the Dutch Golden Age, and this 1662 canvas exemplifies that tradition through its careful rendering of trees and light. Its provenance, from a Dutch family through several European collectors to the American philanthropist Peter A. B. Widener and ultimately the National Gallery of Art, reflects the painting's journey across major collections and its enduring reputation in art-historical narratives.
Overview
Meindert Hobbema, a prominent landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, rendered The Travelers in oil on canvas during the mid-17th century. This painting exemplifies his characteristic focus on serene woodland environments, depicting a quiet countryside path traversed by figures. The work reflects the period's rich artistic production and its appreciation for detailed natural scenes, establishing it as a representative piece of its era.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a tranquil rural setting, featuring a winding dirt path shaded by a large, verdant tree. Two horseback riders, accompanied by a dog, proceed along the road, suggesting a leisurely journey. In the distance, a modest house with a red roof sits beside a pond, with further trees leading towards a distant church steeple, contributing to the scene's idyllic and peaceful atmosphere.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Meindert Lubbertszoon Hobbema (bapt. 31 October 1638 – 7 December 1709) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of landscapes, specializing in views of woodland, although his most famous painting, The Avenue at Middelharnis…
