Hob'bema, MEINDERT

Hob'bema, MEINDERT, landscape-painter, born in 1638, probably at Amsterdam. Few particulars of his life are known. He is believed to have studied art under Jacob Ruysdael, whose name appears as a witness to his marriage at Amsterdam, 2d October 1668, to Eeltije Vinck, who predeceased him in 1704. He died in poverty, and was buried in the Westerkerkhof, Amsterdam, 14th December 1709. His art usually deals with quiet subjects of Dutch cottage and woodland scenery, and these are treated with a skill which entitles the artist to rank along with Ruysdael at the very head of the landscape-painters of Holland. His works are subdued in tone, and finished with extreme care, yet with a singularly free and spirited touch, and are excellent in composition and lighting. Their figures were executed by Berchem, Adrian Vandevelde, and Lingelbach. Smith has catalogued 142 of his works, which now command very large prices, small landscapes from his hand having fetched from £5000 to £10,000. Seven of his works are in the National Gallery, London, and of these 'The Avenne, Middelharnis, Holland,' formerly in the Peel and Vander Pot collections, is an exquisite example. See E. Michel, Hobbema et les Paysagistes de son Temps (1890).