Aelbert Cuyp

Aelbert Cuyp (1620-1691) is one of the leading landscape painters of the Dutch 17th century. He is the master of golden light, and Dordrecht’s most famous painter. On the occasion of his 400th birthday, the Dordrecht’s Museum has organised a unique exhibition in which appreciation for Cuyp and his impact on British landscape painting take centre stage.

TThe Discovery of Cuyp It is a remarkable story. In his own day, Aelbert Cuyp was only known locally. He lived his entire life in Dordrecht and worked almost exclusively for local clients. The discovery of

Cuyp is an English affair. A veritable Cuyp mania arose there midway through the 18th century – his sun-drenched landscapes were extremely popular with English collectors. A

Cuyp was a must-have in their grand country houses. The British aristocracy were as keen to show off with the sunlit landscapes with horses, horsemen and hunting as Cuyp’s

Dordrecht clients had been a century earlier.

Cuyp was discovered late compared to other Dutch painters, but no other artist became as popular in such a short period of time. By 1800, there had been a total sell-out and there were barely any paintings by Cuyp still to be found in the Netherlands. To this day, Cuyp’s finest work is still to be found in England.

British landscape painters were particularly fond of Cuyp’s work. The warm light and motifs such as Cuyp’s cows inspired Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, J.M.W. Turner and countless other English artists. Turner even visited Dordrecht on several occasions to see and sketch Cuyp’s city. Cuyp’s city views and cattle pieces became incredibly popular in England. He became famous for the tranquil, agreeable atmosphere in his Dutch landscapes, bathed in the golden light of a setting sun.

Masterpieces by Cuyp, from renowned collections including those of Queen Elizabeth II of England, the National Gallery in Washington, the Duke of Bedford (Woburn Abbey) and the National Gallery in London are returning to Dordrecht for a limited period of time, and will be shown together with masterpieces by the great English landscape painters Gainsborough, Constable and Turner. Many of the paintings by Cuyp and his English followers will be on public view in the Netherlands for the first time. With thanks to the Dordrecht’s Museum More information: dordrechtsmuseum.nl