Jacob van RUISDAEL
Dutch 1628/29-1682
The watermill
c.1660
oil on canvas
65.0 x 71.3 cm
Felton Bequest 1922
1249-3

Son of the painter Isaac van Ruisdael and nephew of the landscape painter Salomon Ruysdael, Jacob van Ruisdael showed a precocious early talent. He was born in Haarlem and in 1656 moved to Amsterdam where he remained for the rest of his life. By the 1660s he had reached full maturity, producing works of immense power and force.

Ruisdael often drew directly from nature, later working the drawings into finished paintings as well as prints. He travelled extensively through northern Europe, seeking inspiration mainly from the more rugged and dramatic landscape. The distinctive mill seen here is thought to be at Veluwe near Apeldoorn.

Many of his works depict the interaction between the natural world and the intervention of built structures, often showing nature, as the more powerful force, reclaiming its position over the crumbling buildings. This sense of drama underscores many of his finest works.