School of SALOMON VAN RUYSDAEL

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Dutch School,  circa 1680

Oil on Canvas                  

20" x  30" framed

Born between 1600 and 1603 in Naarden, the painter was originally named Salomon de Gooyer (Goyer). Together with his brother Isaack, he later took the name Ruysdael after Ruisdael Palace (Ruischendaal) in the vicinity of their hometown. Shortly after the death of his father, Jacob Jansz., in 1616, Salomon moved to Haarlem with his brother. He joined the Guild of St Luke there under his real name in 1623. The earliest date on one of his paintings is documented to be from the year 1626. Only two years later he was praised as a landscape painter by Samuel van Ampzing, the Haarlem city chronicler. Van Ruysdael repeatedly assumed offices in the Guild of St Luke: he was 'vinder' (chairman) in 1647 and 1669 and dean in 1648.  His paintings document travels throughout Holland, presenting views or important buildings of such cities as Leiden, Utrecht, Alkmaar, Dordrecht and Amersfoort. 

Renowned in the history of Dutch painting for atmospheric and monochromatic landscape, genre and village scenes, Ruysdael was influenced by the tonal period that characterized the 1630s. His work is often compared to fellow Dutch painter Jan van Goyen, with whom he shared a typical style of 17th-century painting. Ruysdael developed an increasingly classicizing approach throughout his career, evoking time and place as in this oil on canvas painting, entitled “The Crossroads.” Together with Jan van Goyen and Pieter de Molijn, he numbers among the founders of tonal landscape painting in Holland.

On 3 November 1670 Salomon van Ruysdael, like his wife, was buried in St Bavokerk. His estate, which included several houses, indicates that the painter enjoyed considerable financial success.

Works by Salomon Van Ruysdael are held in major collections throughout the world.