Landscape with the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

The Flemish painter Joachim Patinir enjoyed a high reputation in his own day. He is now considered one of the key figures in the development of landscape painting and its emergence as an independent genre. His figures, mostly biblical characters, tend to be dwarfed by vast landscapes, as can be seen in this painting. In 1521, Patinir met the illustrious German artist Albrecht Dürer, who was visiting Antwerp at the time. The two men are said to have been on cordial terms and were evidently impressed by each other’s work. Dürer was even invited to Patinir’s wedding. On his arrival in Antwerp, the secretary of the city council presented him with a small painting by Patinir representing Lot and his Daughters. It was probably the panel which is now at the museum. Though other paintings of the same subject are known by Patinir’s circle, this landscape is by far the most beautiful of all and the only one that is firmly attributed to Patinir.