The Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century brought great wealth to the Netherlands with trade and commerce from the orient to the west. Formerly a client state of the Holy Roman Empire the new Dutch state shook off its yoke in 1590 and embarked upon an ambitious global trading policy that eventually saw Dutch maritime supremacy by the 17th century. With the coffee trade and tea, to spices and condiments Dutch traders scoured the globe to make markets back home in Europe and monopolize the supply of such commodities throughout Western Europe. merchants became successful and the citizens flourished as artisans throughout the land received commissions for new works of fine art. One such artist of renown for his serene and gentle Dutch landscapes is Aelbert Cuyp who portrayed the success of his nation by demonstrating the peaceful contentment of rural life allowed to grow in this new age of national wealth. For Aelbert Cuyp b.1620 d.1691, rural life is not overwhelmed with abject poverty but rather an idyllic vision that only economic success can bring as money and wealth brings hopes for greater visions and new achievements. The idyllic visions are tinged with hope and confidence that the newly born nation can rise above turmoils associated with other great political births in history. Aelbert Cuyp can just as well carry this theme through his images of animals, landscapes, social gentry or even maritime subjects. His paintings speak of a quiet inner strength of his nation as the Golden Age permeates all walks of life.
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| Landscape with a Timber Yard near Dordrecht c.1639 Oil on panel, The Kremer Collection. |
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| Portrait of a Twenty-year-old Duck Sijctghen c.1647 Oil on panel, Dordrechts Museum, Dordrecht. |
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| River Landscape with Seven Cows c. 1648 Oil on panel, The Kremer Collection. |
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| The Avenue at Meerdervoort c. 1650 Oil on wood, Wallace Collection London. |
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| Landscape with a Hunt c. 1650 Oil on canvas, Private collection. |
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| The Valkhof at Nijmegen 1652 Oil on wood, Museum of Art Indianapolis. |
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| View of Dordrecht c. 1655 Oil on canvas, Kenwood House, London. |
From the quiet pastorals to the unassuming display of Dutch naval mercantilism, Aelbert Cuyp demonstrated the growing confidence of his nation in a period known as the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. Also known as the 'Dutch Miracle' his paintings remind us of the economic growth reflected through the placidity of his images of rural life sans squalor sans poverty but beaming with contentment over every plot of land that is home to the Netherlands.
Fine art discussions by Pieter Bergli
For my readers that just love a decent cup of the world's most popular beverage with something to read then please turn to my other blog -
http://thegenteelworldofcoffee.blogspot.com/
and of course for lovers of art
https://www.pinterest.com/myartmusings/
and then for readings in history please turn to my first writings on the histories of the Napoleonic military campaigns describing the three most famous battles of the French commander's military career.
http://austerlitz-borodino-waterloo.blogspot.com/
Thank you
For my readers that just love a decent cup of the world's most popular beverage with something to read then please turn to my other blog -
http://thegenteelworldofcoffee.blogspot.com/
and of course for lovers of art
https://www.pinterest.com/myartmusings/
and then for readings in history please turn to my first writings on the histories of the Napoleonic military campaigns describing the three most famous battles of the French commander's military career.
http://austerlitz-borodino-waterloo.blogspot.com/
Thank you
