Oil on canvas, relined
Holland, 18th century
Circle of Jacob van Strij (1756-1815) – Dutch painter and etcher
Gilt stucco frame
Overall dimensions, framed: 67 x 50 cm
Provenance: Private collection, Switzerland
Jacob van Strij continued the Dutch tradition of innovative pastoral scenes from the 17th century. Cattle and no longer shepherds were the protagonists of the Arcadian landscapes

The present painting is the work of an artist active in the circle of Jacob Strij, and dates from the 18th century. It depicts two cows, a goat and a ram in front of a southern landscape. Following Aelbert Cuyp, Jacob van Strij continued the tradition of innovative bucolic scenes or pastoral depictions. The shepherds in these paintings were mostly replaced by cows, which, at that time in the Netherlands, were a symbol of fertility and prosperity.



The canvas has been relined. The varnish is slightly darkened, and the paint surface shows some areas of abrasion and framing marks. Inspection under UV light reveals scattered small areas of retouching to the edges, trees, cows and the darker details of the painting. The gilt stucco frame shows some material losses. The overall dimensions, framed, are 67 x 50 cm. The stretcher measures 55 x 39 cm.



Jacob van Strij (1756-1815)

Born in Dordrecht, Jacob of Strij studied at the Academy in Antwerp and was a pupil of A.C. Lens and successor of Aelbert Cuyp. He painted and etched mainly landscapes and animal depictions. At the turn of the 18th century, Jacob was not only a member of the Dordrecht artist association ‘pictura’, but also co-founder of the ‘Maatschappij tot Nut van't Algemeen’, the philanthropic ‘society for the benefit of the general public’, which was committed to the philosophy of the Enlightenment. Today, works by van Strij are on display in major museum collections, including the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.

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