An exhibition devoted to the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection of Dutch 17th century landscapes opens to the public in the Beit Wing of the gallery today. Admission is free.
Art Surpassing Nature: Dutch Landscapes in the Age of Rembrandt and Ruisdael brings together some 30 works from the gallery’s collection of Dutch landscape paintings and drawings, comprising iconic pieces by Jacob van Ruisdael, Meindert Hobbema and Hendrick Avercamp.
Rembrandt’s nocturnal masterpiece Landscape with the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, 1647 is included in the retrospective and is just one of nine known painted landscapes by the artist.
Dutch artists of the period were the first to paint naturalistic images of their countryside, but many were dissatisfied with the topography of the Low Countries. Consequently, few paintings in this exhibition have an absolute flat horizon, instead imaginary hills are included to make landscapes more rugged and interesting.
The exhibition continues until January 20th, 2013.