1628–1682 · Dutch
Jacob van Ruisdael
Ruisdael always spelled his name with an "i". His cousin, also called Jacob, spelled it with a "y". The distinction matters because both were landscape painters working in Haarlem at the same time, and the confusion has persisted for centuries.
Biography
He was born around 1629 into a family of painters: his father Isaack and his uncle Salomon were both landscapists. He joined the Haarlem Guild of St Luke at seventeen and was painting with a confidence that belied his age. His early works are views of the flat Dutch countryside around Haarlem: dunes, rivers, bleaching fields, and skies that occupy two-thirds of the canvas. The sky in a Ruisdael painting is not background. It is the subject.
His teacher was his uncle Salomon, but the student surpassed the teacher. Ruisdael added drama: turbulent skies, waterfalls (borrowed from Scandinavian scenery after a trip to the German border region), and dead trees whose bare branches carry the weight of mortality. The Jewish Cemetery, painted around 1660, sets crumbling tombs against a stormy sky with a rainbow, an allegory of life and death that Goethe wrote about with admiration.
His pupil Meindert Hobbema continued the Haarlem landscape tradition, but in a sunnier key. Ruisdael preferred the weather when it was about to change.
He never married. A painting sold in 1720 was attributed to "Doctor Jacob Ruisdael," raising the possibility that he also practiced medicine. His later years were difficult: he entered the Haarlem almshouse in 1681 and died there the following year. About seven hundred paintings survive, which suggests he worked constantly, rain or not.
Timeline
- 1629Born in Haarlem into a family of landscape painters. His father Isaack and uncle Salomon van Ruysdael were both working artists.
- 1646Produced his earliest dated paintings and etchings at about 17 in Haarlem, already showing striking maturity.
- 1648Admitted to the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke at about 19, just two years after his earliest known works.
- 1650Travelled to the German border region at about 21, encountering dramatic hilly terrain and waterfalls that shifted his landscapes towards a more heroic character.
- 1657Moved to Amsterdam at about 28, drawn by its larger art market. He became a citizen in 1659 and joined the Reformed Church, leaving his family's Mennonite faith.
- 1660Painting at the height of his powers in Amsterdam by about 31, producing panoramic views, seascapes and the stormy woodland scenes for which he became celebrated. His only registered pupil was Meindert Hobbema.
- 1682Died on 10 March at about 53 in Amsterdam. He was buried on 14 March in St Bavo's Church back in Haarlem, his birthplace.
Notable Works
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Where to See Jacob van Ruisdael
4 museums worldwide.
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1 works
Art Gallery of South Australia
North Terrace, Australia
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1 works
Beecroft Art Gallery
Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom
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1 works
Liechtenstein Museum
Vienna, Austria
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1 works
Temple Newsam
Leeds, United Kingdom
Jacob van Ruisdael prints
Hand-finished archival prints from Jacob van Ruisdael's body of work.
Road Lined with Trees - Jacob van Ruisdael
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Wooded Landscape with an Old Oak - Jacob van Ruisdael
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Landscape with a Church by a Torrent - Jacob van Ruisdael
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Wheatfield - Jacob van Ruisdael
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Grain Field at the Edge of a Wood - Jacob van Ruisdael
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A Forest Marsh with Travelers on a Bank - Jacob van Ruisdael
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Related Artists
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See all Jacob van Ruisdael prints →Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jacob van Ruisdael's most famous work?
Jacob van Ruisdael (born in Haarlem, around 1628; died in Amsterdam, 1682) is considered one of the greatest Dutch artists of his era. He moved to Amsterdam around 1656, seeking to expand his business. Many paintings vie for the title of Ruisdael's most famous work. One popular choice is *The Jewish Cemetery* (painted between 1655 and 1660). Other notable paintings include *Dam Square in Amsterdam* (circa 1670), which depicts the city's weigh house and local population; *Wheatfields* (1660s); and *A Mountainous Wooded Country Road with a Torrent*. Ruisdael is especially known for his views of Haarlem. These paintings often show St. Bavo’s Church and rows of linen being bleached in the sun. In these works, the sky often dominates the composition, sometimes taking up two-thirds of the canvas. His paintings, along with those of his student Meindert Hobbema, are considered by some to epitomise Dutch landscape painting.What should I know about Jacob van Ruisdael's prints?
Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/29-1682) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, known for his poetic depictions of the Dutch countryside. While he is celebrated for his paintings, his work also extended to prints, though these are less widely discussed. Ruisdael's approach to art involved a close observation of reality. He paid great attention to detail when portraying the Dutch landscape. He would then exaggerate and rearrange these details to heighten the atmosphere and sentiment within the work. The appreciation for Ruisdael's art grew significantly in the 18th century. Travellers often compared real-world views to his paintings, as noted by Johann Ludwig Aberli in 1774. Collectors, including royalty, acquired his works. For example, William VIII purchased Ruisdael's *Waterfall* in 1750 for his collection in Kassel. Augustus II and Augustus III Wettin also bought several paintings for the Dresden Gallery. Catherine II acquired multiple works by Ruisdael in the 1760s and 1770 from collections in Geneva and from Heinrich von Brühl.What techniques or materials did Jacob van Ruisdael use?
Jacob van Ruisdael was born in Haarlem in 1628. His father, Isaack, was an art dealer, frame maker, and painter of outdoor scenes; his uncle, Salomon van Ruisdael, was a celebrated artist. Jacob received early instruction from his father, and the two sometimes painted the same views side by side. Ruisdael painted rustic scenes. By 1656, when he moved to Amsterdam, he had a strong reputation for the technical quality and originality of his work. His paintings often feature expansive skies with light and dark clouds. He captured the natural world, not an idealised realm. Ruisdael instilled a sense of grandeur and drama into his works. He depicted both the flat plains of Holland and the more rugged areas of northern Germany. He is considered one of the most versatile of all seventeenth-century Dutch painters. He died in Amsterdam in 1682.Where can I see Jacob van Ruisdael's work?
Jacob van Ruisdael's artwork can be found in numerous galleries and museums. In the UK, you can find his work at the Towneley Hall Art Gallery (Burnley, Lancashire), the Fitzwilliam Museum (Cambridge), and the National Museum of Wales (Cardiff). Several works are held by the National Gallery (London), and the Dulwich College Picture Gallery also has a few examples. Elsewhere in Europe, Ruisdael's paintings are in the collections of the Rijksmuseum Kréller-Müller (Otterlo, Netherlands), the Museum Boymans-van Beuningen (Rotterdam), the Nasjonalgalleriet (Oslo), the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (Lisbon), the Muzeul de Arta (Craiova, Romania), the Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow), and the Hermitage Museum (St Petersburg). In Spain, his work can be viewed at the Museo de Bellas Artes (Bilbao), the Fundacién Coleccion Thyssen-Bornemisza (Madrid), and the Museo Nacional del Prado (Madrid). Swiss galleries include the Offentliche Kunstsammlung Kunstmuseum Basel and the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire (Geneva).Where did jacob van ruisdael work?
Jacob van Ruisdael worked in Haarlem, where he was well placed to take advantage of what the town offered. He also painted views of the Dutch countryside around Haarlem.Where is jacob van ruisdael from?
Jacob van Ruisdael was Dutch, born in 1628 and died in 1682.Where was Jacob van Ruisdael from?
Jacob van Ruisdael was Dutch. Born in Haarlem in 1628, he came from a family of artists. His father, Isaack van Ruisdael, was a painter of outdoor scenes, art dealer, and frame maker. Jacob's uncle, Salomon van Ruisdael, was also a well-regarded painter of outdoor scenes. Isaack gave Jacob his earliest lessons, and the two sometimes painted side by side. In 1648, Jacob joined the Guild of St. Luke in Haarlem; Salomon was the dean at that time. Haarlem was an important place for Dutch outdoor painting in the 17th century. Artists created realistic rather than idealised or mythical scenes. These works depicted the natural world, with working people in the countryside. Jacob van Ruisdael later moved to Amsterdam, around 1656, and remained there for the rest of his life. Ruisdael took his name from the castle of Ruisdael, located roughly 30 kilometers from Amsterdam.Who did Jacob van Ruisdael influence?
Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/9-1682) is considered a key figure in Dutch Golden Age painting. His influence is most directly seen in the work of Meindert Hobbema (1638-1709), who was his student and friend. Ruisdael's style came to epitomise Dutch landscape painting. Ruisdael's work encompassed a range of Dutch scenery. He painted rural scenes with dunes and canals, as well as seascapes and panoramic views. He also created wilder scenes inspired by Allaert van Everdingen's Scandinavian views. His landscapes ranged in tone, from grand to intimate. Ruisdael's early exposure to art came through his father, an art dealer. He was also taught by Isaack van Ruisdael and Salomon van Ruysdael. He may have observed Jan van Goyen at work; van Goyen lived in the Ruisdael household in 1634. By 1656, when Ruisdael moved to Amsterdam, he had a reputation for technical skill and originality.Who influenced Jacob van Ruisdael?
Jacob van Ruisdael benefited from the artistic environment of Haarlem. His father, Isaack van Ruisdael, an art dealer, frame maker, and painter, gave Jacob his earliest painting lessons; they sometimes worked side by side. His uncle, Salomon van Ruisdael, was also a landscape artist; in 1648, when Jacob joined the Guild of St Luke, Salomon was its dean. In addition to tutelage from Isaack and Salomon, Jacob could observe Jan van Goyen, who stayed in the Ruisdael house in 1634. Haarlem was central to the development of a Dutch approach to representing the countryside. Unlike the heroic or mythical paintings produced elsewhere, Haarlem's artists favoured realism. Artists such as Esaias van de Velde and Jan van Goyen painted observed reality, not idealised fantasy. Their works depict rough flora and rural byways, populated by working people, instead of ancient ruins and mythical figures.Who was jacob van ruisdael?
Jacob van Ruisdael (1628-1682) was a Dutch painter, considered among the greatest of the 17th-century Dutch school of the art form. Born in Haarlem, he purportedly trained as a surgeon and received a medical degree from the University of Caen in France in 1676. However, he seemingly gained his artistic training from his father, Isaack de Goyer, who was also a painter of similar subjects. He may have also received instruction from his uncle, Salomon van Ruysdael, and watched Jan van Goyen at work when the latter lodged with the Ruisdael family in 1634. Ruisdael became a member of the Guild of St Luke in Haarlem in 1648. Around 1656, he moved to Amsterdam, where he remained for the rest of his life. Amsterdam was then the wealthiest and largest city in Holland, and Ruisdael may have moved there to expand his business. His works include *Jewish Cemetery* (c. 1655-1660), *Dam Square in Amsterdam* (c. 1670), *Windmill at Wijk bij Duurstede*, and *Landscape with a View of Haarlem* (c. 1670-1675).Why are Jacob van Ruisdael's works important today?
Jacob van Ruisdael (1628-1682) epitomises the Dutch school of painting; his works are what many people think of when they consider the genre. He painted rustic views, and his technical ability, charm, and originality gained him patronage from high society. Born in Haarlem, Ruisdael was well-placed to become a successful artist. His father, Isaack, was an art dealer, frame maker, and painter, who gave Jacob his earliest lessons. His uncle, Salomon van Ruisdael, was also a celebrated artist. In 1634, the painter Jan van Goyen even lived in the Ruisdael household. Haarlem was central to the development of Dutch approaches to representing the countryside. Artists such as Esaias van de Velde and Jan van Goyen created realistic rather than idealised scenes. Ruisdael's paintings depict what he observed. His *Wheatfields* (1660s), for example, shows a country road with walkers leading to trees and a small house. Sunlight falls on grain between shadows cast by clouds. *Wooded Country Road* (in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art) depicts a fork in a dirt path, where shepherds navigate a puddle. His views of Haarlem often show St. Bavo’s Church and rows of linen being bleached.When was jacob van ruisdael born?
Jacob van Ruisdael was born in 1628 in the Netherlands. Jacob van Ruisdael died in 1682, aged 54.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Jacob van Ruisdael.
- [1] museum Liechtenstein Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum Temple Newsam Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] museum Art Gallery of South Australia Used for: museum holdings.
- [4] museum Beecroft Art Gallery Used for: museum holdings.
- [5] museum Samuel H. Kress Collection Used for: museum holdings.
- [6] academic Jacob van Ruisdael Used for: biography.
- [7] academic Jacob van Ruisdael | Biography, Art, & Facts Used for: biography.
- [8] book Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author, Beard, Lee, 1973- author, Butler, Adam, author; Van Cleave, Claire, author; Fortenberry, Diane, author; Stirling, Susan, author - The Art Book_ New Edition, Mini Format Used for: biography.
- [9] book Lilian H. Zirpolo, Historical Dictionary of Baroque Art and Architecture Used for: biography.
- [10] book Nadler, Steven M., 1958-;Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1606-1669, Rembrandt's Jews Used for: biography.
- [11] museum Jacob van Ruisdael - Landscape with a Village in the Distance Used for: museum holdings.
- [12] museum Jacob van Ruisdael - Wheat Fields Used for: notable works.
- [13] museum The Windmill at Wijk bij Duurstede Used for: notable works.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-06-19. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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