Landscape: A River among Mountains

Painted probably around 1600, this is an early example of pure landscape without religious subject matter. It is painted on a poplar panel, the wood most commonly used by Italians. The composition follows an engraving after Pieter Bruegel the Elder. It was conceivably painted by an Italian artist in imitation of a Netherlandish original. Note especially the figure of the artist sketching at the lower left.