Cornelis de Graeff with his Wife and Sons

The painting was commissioned by Cornelis de Graeff, a prominent Amsterdam burgomaster, to depict his family’s arrival at Soestdijk, his country estate near Utrecht. Art historian Seymour Slive attributes the landscape and estate to Jacob van Ruisdael, while the figures, carriage, and animals are attributed to Thomas de Keyser. The work is dated to c. 1660 and is the only known commissioned painting by Ruisdael.

The 118.4 × 170.5 cm oil on canvas has been in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin since its acquisition.

Scholarly attribution of this 1660 canvas has shifted over time. Hofstede de Groot excluded it from his 1911 catalogue raisonné of Jacob van Ruisdael, but art historian Seymour Slive later attributed the background and country estate to Ruisdael in his 2001 catalogue raisonné. The figures, carriage, and animals are credited to Thomas de Keyser.

The painting represents a rare collaborative venture for Ruisdael, and notably stands as his only known commissioned work.

The work is recognized as one of the rare paintings that Jacob van Ruisdael executed on commission, a fact highlighted by art historian Seymour Slive in his 2001 catalogue raisonné. Its depiction of the De Graeff family at Soestdijk combines portraiture with a meticulously rendered landscape, influencing later Dutch portrait groups that sought to blend personal narrative with idealized scenery. The painting’s inclusion in the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection has ensured its continued visibility, while scholarly discussions of Ruisdael’s oeuvre frequently reference this piece to illustrate his mastery of atmospheric space and his collaboration with Thomas de Keyser.

Titled Cornelis de Graeff with his Wife and Sons, this oil on canvas painting from approximately 1660 is a collaborative work by Dutch Golden Age artists Thomas de Keyser and Jacob van Ruisdael. It portrays the arrival of the prominent Amsterdam burgomaster Cornelis de Graeff and his family at their country estate, Soestdijk Palace. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland in Dublin.