Wooded Landscape with Watermill, c. 1665
Meindert Hobbemaexpand_more
Oil on canvasexpand_more
The William Hood Dunwoody Fundexpand_more 41.2
On View in Gallery 310expand_more
The enthusiastic sportsman in the bright red coat draws the eye and adds a narrative to the landscape: Has he interrupted his ride to take an opportune shot' Yet he wasn’t in the original painting. He was added later—by another painter, no less—between 1810 and 1828. An 1809 sale catalogue describes the painting without him: “The chef d’oeuvre of this celebrated painter, a beautiful landscape with a water mill—the figures and cattle are judiciously introduced, with appropriate spirit of pencil, by [Nicholas] Berchem.” In 1828, another estate-sale catalogue notes his appearance: “…in the foreground, on the right, a sportsman dressed in red is shooting at wild fowl….”
It’s impossible to know why he was painted in. But sporting subjects were extremely popular in the early 1800s, particularly in England, and the painting’s owner may have requested the addition to increase demand (and therefore its price) at auction.
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Details
- Title
- Wooded Landscape with Watermill
- Artist Life
- 1638–1709
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 41.2
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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