Landscape with ancient temple in a storm, ca. 1721

About the Work

Known above all for his flower and fruit still lifes (for example "Flowers in a Woven Basket and a Bird's Nest" (Inv.-Nr. 826 Z)), Jan van Huysum also carried out drawings and paintings depicting classical landscapes in the French tradition. Cat. 9 is a design for such a composition – an unusually agitated, wild one for this artist’s standards. Its motif has remained a mystery to date. Executed with energetic sweeps that convey the stormy atmosphere, the masterful brush technique seems to have met with the approval of contemporary art admirers. The signature at the bottom left indicates that the artist sold this sheet or gave it to someone as a gift.