Italian Landscape

Jan Both (in circa 1647)

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Len Easthope asked

Hi, did Jan Both sign all his paintings? I have a Italianate landscape painting that is very old and very similar in style, but I cannot find signature.
Regards
Len Easthope
Many th
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

Dear Len,

Jan Both did not sign all of his paintings, and even some seemingly signed works turned out to be made by copyists or imitators, which makes attributing a painting to Both complicated in general. Already during Both’s lifetime his work was being copied, and for a long time these imitations weren’t being distinguished from Both’s oeuvre, as even Cornelis Hofstede de Groot attributed some (poor quality) imitations to Both. When Both did sign his work, the signature itself could differ as well, which further complicates an attribution. The best way of distinguishing a work by Both from an imitation is by the quality of the work, even though there are quite a few high-quality imitations and copies around as well.

Best,
Lisa

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North European artists had been going to Italy since the 16th century to study classical antiquity and modern Italian art. Others brought their specialisation as painters of imaginary landscapes with them and attracted the interest of Italian patrons. The southern landscape became a popular subject in the 17th century. First there, then here. Jan Both was an important pioneer of that fashion.

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Specifications

Title	Italian Landscape
Material and technique	Oil on panel
Object type	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Location	This object is in storage

Dimensions	Height 46,5 cm Width 60,5 cm
Artists	Painter: Jan Both
Accession number	1080 (OK)
Credits	From the estate of F.J.O. Boijmans, 1847
Department	Old Masters
Acquisition date	1847
Creation date	in circa 1647
Collector	Collector / F.J.O. Boijmans
Internal exhibitions	The Collection Enriched (2011) De collectie als tijdmachine (2017)
Material	Oil > Paint > Artist's material > Material > Material and technique Panel > Worked wood > Wood > Vegetable material > Organic material > Material > Material and technique
Object	Painting > Painting > Two-dimensional object > Art object
Geographical origin	Northern Netherlands > The Netherlands > Western Europe > Europe