" (Burlington House, Royal Academy of Arts, 2006) it is also stated of Ruisdael's sea paintings as follows: "As a painter of the sea, he far surpasses all the marine artists." (Cundall, 2007) the following picture is Ruisdael's 'Rough Seas with a Pier' labeled Figure 2. Figure 2

Rough Seas with a Pier

Source: www.casa-in-italia.com/artpx/dut/Ruisdael.htm

The work of Cundall (2007) entitled: "The Landscape and Pastoral Painters of Holland: Ruisdael, Hobbema, Cuijp, Potter" states that it is stated that Ruisdael's "sea pieces...are easily distinguished from the works of the same kind; they carry the seal of his genius as all the rest. The following illustration is Ruisdael's painting 'Spruces and Waterfall'.

Figure 3

Spruces and Waterfall

Source: www.casa-in-italia.com/artpx/dut/Ruisdael.htm

Cundall reports it having been stated of Ruisdael that he is "beyond all dispute, the greatest of the Dutch landscape painters. In the works of no other do we find that feeling for the poetry of Northern nature and perfection of representation united to the same degree. With admirable drawing he combined a knowledge of chiaroscuro in its most multifarious aspects, a coloring powerful and warm, and a mastery of the brush which, while never too smooth...ranges from the tenderest and most minute touch to the broadest, freest and most marrowy execution. The prevailing tone of his coloring is a full, decided green." (2007)

Summary and Conclusion

As noted in this brief study Jacob Van Ruisdael was a celebrated painter however, it was not until after his own lifetime that...

Ruisdael's work included naturalistic details and dashes of color or light which were his trademarks in the world of art. Ruisdael was a contemporary of Rembrandt and was accredited by the French Impressionist movement as having been a forerunner to that movement.
Ruisdael was not content to merely portray the landscape as calm and unmoving but instead preferred a dynamic representation of the landscape complete with its movements and most dramatic moods, always choosing the dramatic over the simplistic representation of the subject in nature chosen for his paintings. Ruisdael's paintings have due to his choice of greens appear somewhat brownish in the present however, the artistry and talent of Ruisdael can clearly be observed and his painting easily distinguished from other landscape artists of his time.

Bibliography

Cundall, Frank (2007) the landscape and pastoral painters of Holland: Ruisdael, Hobbema, Cuijp, Potter. Illustrated biographies of the great artists. S. Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, ltd., 1891. Harvard University 27 Jun 2007

Jacob Van Ruisdael (nd) Online available at: www.casa-in-italia.com/artpx/dut/Ruisdael.htm

Jacob Van Ruisdael: Master of Landscape (2006) Royal Academy of Arts -- Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, WIJ OBD United Kingdom. 25 Feb -- 4 Jun 2006. Online available at http://www.codart.nl/exhibitions/details/916/

Landscape Tour (2010) Ruisdael, Jacob van. Online available at: http://www.artchive.com/artchive/R/ruisdael/jewish_cemetery.jpg.html