A Mountainous Landscape
- Artist: Roelant Roghman
- Date: about 1665
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
A Mountainous Landscape was painted in the Dutch north around 1665. It's almost certain that Roelant Roghman didn't create an entirely realistic view of the landscape, but rather pieced it together from sketches and drawings he or other artists had made while travelling abroad.
Take a look at those rounded hills and craggy distant mountains - they don't fit into what you might typically see in a Dutch countryside painting. And then there are the strange little trees on the edge of that cliff, adding to an image that's really meant to appeal to your imagination.
Now let's talk about the figures in this landscape. A man is fishing in the river, while a shepherd and his young boy walk up the meandering path on the left. Meanwhile, a horseman and his companion are crossing a flimsy bridge over a deep chasm on the right. They're all shown from behind, almost in silhouette, which adds to that air of mystery.
The whole scene is set against a turbulent sky, with those figures dwarfed by the landscape - like actors on an enormous stage. It's a powerful and imaginative work, one that invites you to step into its world and explore its secrets further.
See it in person
A Mountainous Landscape hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
