Landscape with Arched Gateway (Landscape with a Stone Gateway and Pond)
Adam Pynacker (Schiedam c.1620 – Amsterdam 1673)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1654
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
990 x 1295 mm
Place of origin
Holland
Order this imageCollection
Penrhyn Castle, Gwynedd
NT 1422011
Caption
Adam Pynacker was one of a group of Dutch landscape artists who visited Italy in the mid-17th century where, like Richard Wilson a century later, they were inspired by the warm light of the Roman Campagna, collectively they are known as the Dutch Italianates and the artist of this picture was one of the principal exponents of this style. He travelled in Italy from about 1645, returning to Holland by 1652. This work dates from shortly after his return and is probably a pair to Sunny Landscape with River and High Mountains, now in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm. The composition includes some of his favourite motifs, such as the broken tree trunk in the foreground. Technical examination has revealed that Pynacker originally intended to show cattle emerging through the archway and one cow is still faintly visible. Conservation has removed discoloured layers of varnish to reveal fully the warm tones of his Italianate light. Originally owned by the artist Benjamin West it was bought by Col. Edward Douglas-Pennant, Lord Penrhyn, Penrhyn Castle in1865 and is now jointly owned by National Trust and National Museum Wales
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Landscape with Arched Gateway (Landscape with a Stone Gateway and Pond), by Adam Pynacker (Schiedam c.1620 – Amsterdam 1673), circa 1654. Painted shortly after his return, in 1652, to Holland from Italy. Bathed in warm glowing light some of the artist's favourite motifs are visible, including the broken tree trunk in the foreground and the central archway. It may be a pendant to Sunny Landscape with River and High Mountains in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm.
Provenance
Benjamin West (1738-1820); Christie's, 23 June 1820; Bolton; Colonel M. Six van Hillegom, Amsterdam, 1835; Hendrik Six sale, Amsterdam, 25 November 1861, lot 39; Colonel Edward Douglas-Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn (1800-1886), at Penrhyn Castle from 1865, and thence by descent; acquired by the National Trust and the National Museums and Galleries of Wales by private treaty from the estate of the late Lady Janet Douglas-Pennant (d.1997) 2002, with the help of a grant of £83,000 from the Art Fund.
Credit line
Penrhyn Castle, The Douglas Pennant Collection (National Trust and National Musuems of Wales)
Makers and roles
Adam Pynacker (Schiedam c.1620 – Amsterdam 1673), artist
References
Penrhyn Castle, Gwynedd 1902: [Alice Douglas Pennant] Catalogue of Pictures at Penrhyn Castle and Mortimer House in 1901, Bangor, 1902, no. 4 Hofstede de Groot 1926 C. Hofstede de Groot, Beschreibendes und Kritisches Verzeichnis der Werke der hervorragendsten Holländischen Maler des XVII Jahrhunderts, Vol IX, Esslingen 1926, pp 108, 521-6 Harwood 1988 Laurie B. Harwood, Adam Pynacker (c 1620- 1673), Doornspijk, 1988, no. 39, p.66 Harwood 1991, Laurie B Harwood, Reflections on Italy: Adams Pynacker, London, 1991, p. 16 National Art Collections Fund, 2002: National Art Collections Fund - Annual Report, 2002, no. 5108, p 87