Pair of Tree Studies

Philips Wouwerman was a Dutch painter and draughtsman. As he was the eldest son of the painter Paulus Joostens Wouwerman, he probably received his first painting lessons from his father. Philips Wouwerman became the most highly celebrated member from this family of painters from Haarlem working there almost all his life. He excelled in battle scenes, the hunt, and pictures of encampments, and was undoubtedly the most accomplished and successful 17th century Dutch painter of horses.
According to a contemporary source, after his initial work with his father, he became a pupil of Frans Hals. Later he became a pupil of the landscape painter Jan Wynants (1620-1679), with whom he shared very fluid brushwork. His elegant draughtmanship and his balanced compositions were much admired. Philips’ Wouwerman had continued popularity throughout the 18th century, and was a member of the painters’ guild.
Wouwerman also specialized in landscapes with hills, peopled with varied figures, horses, animal paintings, and cavalry skirmishes, all depicted with great vivacity, fine composition and brilliant colour. His brothers Pieter and Jan imitated his style. His talents developed rapidly in the 1640s while living in Haarlem, and working closely with Pieter van Laer. In the late 1640s Wouwerman developed a greater interest in landscape painting. The pair of drawings shown here attests to his sensitive hand, his keen powers of observation, and his taste for composition. This brings these drawings of trees, not only to life, but evoke a sense of the peaceful countryside.

The important collections created during the 18th and early 19th century, including those that form the nucleus of the museums in St. Petersburg, Dresden, and The Hague, contain a large number of Wouwerman works.