A Torrent in a Mountainous Landscape
- Artist: Jacob van Ruisdael
- Date: about 1665-70
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is "A Torrent in a Mountainous Landscape" painted by Jacob van Ruisdael. Created during the middle of the seventeenth century, it's part of the landscape tradition that was popular among collectors at the time. You'll notice how dramatic and scenic this view is, which was influenced by drawings made by Van Ruisdael's friend Allart van Everdingen after his trip to Scandinavia. These drawings were in high demand because they offered more exciting views than the flat Dutch landscapes people were used to seeing.
The painting itself has had some controversy over who actually painted it - Jacob van Ruisdael or his pupil Jan (Johan) van Kessel. However, it's now widely accepted that Van Ruisdael was indeed the artist. The signature, although added later, is considered authentic and matches the style of other waterfall paintings from around this time.
The colours and brushstrokes used here are typical of the Dutch landscape tradition, and you can see how they've been applied to create a sense of movement in the water.
See it in person
A Torrent in 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.
