Who painted Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter?

Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter was painted by Jacob Savery in 1580-01-01.

Where can I see Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter?

Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter?

Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter

Jacob Savery , 1590

Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter is a gouache painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jacob Savery. It dates from 1590 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The iconography is deeply integrated into its natural setting, with the depicted elements serving both the narrative and the environment.

The artwork illustrates the biblical narrative of Jephthah's daughter, a story of sacrifice and mourning from the Old Testament. While the primary subject is this religious tale, the visual composition operates heavily within the landscape genre. The iconography is deeply integrated into its natural setting, with the depicted elements serving both the narrative and the environment.

Specifically, the scene incorporates a mountain, a boat, a tree, and a house, which anchor the biblical event within a detailed, expansive world, blending the spiritual weight of Jephthah's vow with meticulous observation of natural and man-made surroundings.

Technique & Style

Executed in gouache on wood, the work measures 18.5 cm in height and 31 cm in width. The handling combines fine, linear detail with broader, atmospheric washes to articulate the rocky terrain, distant mountains, and clustered buildings. Trees and foliage are rendered through stippled and hatched strokes, while the figures appear in small, carefully placed accents that integrate narrative and setting without disrupting the panoramic sweep.

The composition favors a continuous, low horizon that emphasizes vertical rock formations and a layered, aerial perspective typical of Northern European landscape tradition.

History & Provenance

The work Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter was created in 1590 by the artist Jacob Savery. Executed as a gouache painting on wood and parchment, the piece measures 18.5 cm in height and 31 cm in width. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it is classified as a landscape painting.

No specific details regarding its original commission or intermediate ownership history prior to its museum acquisition are provided in the available records.

Overview

Jacob Savery's Landscape with the story of Jephthah's daughter, painted on wood in 1590, exemplifies the Northern Renaissance tradition. This work presents a broad landscape scene, incorporating elements of a bustling town alongside natural features. It is currently housed in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, reflecting the artistic currents of the late 16th century in the Low Countries.