What topics does Street Scene with Roman Ruins, Jan Both, c. 1642 - c. 1644 explore?

roman ruins, cityscape painting, dutch golden age, historical scene, classical architecture, street vendors, 17th century art

Is Street Scene with Roman Ruins, Jan Both, c. 1642 - c. 1644 under copyright?

No, this artwork is in the public domain.

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Artwork Description

Blankert was the first to point out that this picture by Jan Both must be the companion piece to the Landscape with a Ruined Temple and Card Players in Munich (fig. a).7 Not only are the dimensions almost the same but the compositions and the placement of the figures are each other’s mirror image. Burke went a step further and proposed that the two paintings represent different times of the day. The warmly lit Rijksmuseum scene seems to be illuminated by the evening sun, while the cooler tonality of the Munich canvas suggests the light of morning.8 This led Salerno to assume that the pendants were the same as the ones that Joachim von Sandrart reported as being in his own collection.9 However, there is no firm evidence of this. If the two scenes were indeed intended to be a pair, which is by no means certain, they were separated a long time ago. The one in Munich was already in the Kurfürstliche Sammlung there in the eighteenth century,10 while the one in Amsterdam only emerged on the art market in London in 1894. The composition of the landscape has an interesting sense of recession into depth thanks to the prominent classical ruins. The one in the right foreground could be that of the Temple of Antonius and Faustina in the Forum Romanum. It has been suggested that the triumphal arch in the centre is that of Titus.11 It too stands in the Forum, and before it was restored in the eighteenth century it had a sloping side. That feature would not rule out the Arch of Drusus either; in fact the broken column just to the left of the opening makes that even more likely. In any event, there is a close correspondence, albeit reversed left for right, with the arch depicted by the artist in the painting now in the Duke of Devonshire’s collection at Chatsworth.12 The building vaguely visible in the background is based on the Colosseum. The architecture in this cityscape is a free interpretation and compilation of classical ruins to be seen in Rome, so this is a true capriccio. The scene is dominated by men in large hats in the bambocciante style popularized in Rome by Pieter van Laer.13 Von Sandrart’s statement that the Both brothers collaborated on paintings has led to the suggestion that the figures in this cityscape are by Andries.14 In contrast to those in the Munich canvas, which were definitely by him, Blankert felt that there was an absence of the liveliness and caricatural found in that work, which rightly convinced him that the Amsterdam picture must be by Jan alone.15 Since the latter produced street scenes of this kind while he was living in Rome, and given the attribution of the staffage to him, this canvas was probably executed shortly after Andries’s death in 1642. Richard Harmanni, 2022 See Key to abbreviations, Rijksmuseum painting catalogues and Acknowledgements

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Artist Biography

Jan Both (1610-1652): Master of Mediterranean Light

Jan Dirksz Both was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher who emerged as one of the foremost figures in the burgeoning “Italianate” landscape movement during the Dutch Golden Age. Born around 1615/1618 in Utrecht, he was the younger brother of Andries Both, and their father, Dirck Both, a glass painter or glazier, instilled in them an early appreciation for artistic craftsmanship. While biographical details remain somewhat sparse, scholarly research suggests that Jan’s training encompassed instruction from Abraham Bloemaert and Gerrit van Honthorst, marking him amongst the influential artists of his time.

Early Life & Training: Both's formative years were spent in Utrecht, where he honed his skills alongside his brother Andries, absorbing techniques from their father’s glazing practice – a craft deeply rooted in Flemish traditions.
Roman Influence: Around 1638, Jan and Andries embarked on a transformative journey to Rome via France, immersing themselves in the artistic fervor of the papal court and encountering luminaries like Bloemaert and Gerrit van Honthorst. This exposure profoundly shaped their stylistic sensibilities.

The Romanate Style & Collaboration with Lorrain

Rome proved to be a crucible for Both’s artistic development. While Andries focused on genre scenes in the manner of Pieter van Laer, Jan dedicated himself primarily to landscape painting—a style heavily indebted to Claude Lorrain—capturing the ethereal beauty of the Mediterranean region with an unparalleled mastery of light and color. Notably, he collaborated closely with Herman van Swanevelt on a monumental project for the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid, demonstrating his ambition and artistic prowess within the highest echelons of European patronage. This partnership cemented Both’s reputation as a leading landscape innovator.

Notable Paintings & Artistic Characteristics

Both's oeuvre is characterized by expansive, imaginative landscapes bathed in a luminous golden light—a hallmark of Lorrain’s style and indicative of the broader artistic currents circulating throughout Europe. His masterpiece, “Landscape with Bandits Leading Prisoners” (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), exemplifies this aesthetic brilliance. The diagonal road draws the eye into the scene, juxtaposing realistic figures against a backdrop of idyllic vistas populated by meticulously rendered vegetation. Recurring motifs include religious or mythological figures—as seen in “Judgement of Paris” (London, National Gallery)—often executed by fellow Utrecht artists like Cornelis van Poelenburch, underscoring Both’s engagement with humanist ideals and artistic conventions.

Legacy & Influence

Jan Both's brother Andries tragically succumbed to illness in Venice during their return journey from Rome. Despite the brevity of his life, Andries established himself as a respected artist specializing in peasant scenes—a genre reflecting the social realities of the time. Jan Both’s artistic legacy extends beyond individual paintings; he served as a teacher to talented pupils like Barend Bispinck and Willem de Heusch, ensuring that his stylistic innovations would continue to inspire generations of artists. His work remains celebrated for its evocative atmosphere, masterful technique, and contribution to the development of Dutch landscape painting—a testament to Both’s enduring influence on European art history.

Collections

Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge
Hermitage, St. Petersburg
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Louvre, Paris
Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery

Jan Both

1610 - 1652 , Netherlands

Quick Facts

Artistic Movement Or Style: Italianate Landscape Painting
Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Claude Lorrain']
Artists Who Influenced This Artist:
- Abraham Bloemaert
- Gerrit van Honthorst
Date Of Birth: Utrecht, Netherlands (1610)
Date Of Death: August 9, 1652
Full Name: Jan Dirksz Both
Nationality: Dutch
Notable Artworks:
- Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child
- Landscape with bandits leading prisoners
- Judgement of Paris
Place Of Birth: Utrecht