This fine mid-19th-century oil on panel by Dutch artist Pieter Caspar Christ (1822-1888) depicts a woodland landscape with distant cottages under a cloudy sky.
Standing under the bough of an ancient oak, a figure admires the vista. From here, atop a craggy vantage point, the view extends across the plains below. Nature towers over man with irrepressible strength as it has done for centuries. Here’s a landscape grounded in tradition that carries a deep respect for the natural world and pays homage to the artist’s Golden Age forebears.
The Dutch were painting in this style for hundreds of years and remain unsurpassed as masters of the art. Each generation informed the next, from the 17th-century luminaries, such as Jacob van Ruisdael, through to the 19th-century followers, such as Pieter Caspar Christ and his father, Johannes. When you’ve reached the pinnacle of naturalistic landscapes, why change?
This work serves as a fascinating example of the rich Dutch heritage. Pieter’s father was trained by Jacob van Eynden II (1733-1824) who owned a remarkable art collection. Van Eynden II was in turn trained by his father, Jacob van Eynden I (1696-1775), an art teacher from Nijmegen. And if you follow this thread of tuition, you arrive in the 17th century. Consider the similarities between this painting and Jacob van Ruisdael’s ‘Entrance to a Forest’ from around 1660. Note how the foliage and clouds are particularly similar.
Echoes of the Golden Age painters still reverberate through today’s landscapes - as they always will. In this piece from around 1860, Pieter Caspar Christ is painting with a loaded brush.
Signed and held within a later frame.
Medium: Oil on panel
Overall size: 25½” x 29” / 75cm x 65cm
Year of creation: c. 1860
Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £3,708
Pieter Caspar Christ was trained by his father Johannes Franciscus Christ (1790-1845). The museums at Nijmegen and Arnhem hold examples of his work.
Learn more about Pieter Caspar Christ in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
