View on a Plain

Aelbert Cuyp, whose work was little known outside his native Dordrecht, was “discovered” by collectors in 18th-century England. They enthusiastically bought up his paintings to such an extent that little was left in his native country.

Early works such as this show the influence of Jan van Goyen (1596-1656), with whom Cuyp trained. Cuyp never visited Italy, but probably caught the Italianate “bug” from fellow artist Jan Both.
The tower that dominates the horizon is that of the church of St Cunera, in Rhenen. The view is thought to be taken from the Grebbeberg, a hill to the east of the city.