Hobbema, Meindert

Hobbema, Meindert (1638-1709), Dutch painter, born in Amsterdam. With his teacher, Jacob van Ruisdael, he is considered one of the two greatest Dutch landscape painters. His favourite subject matter was the wooded countryside; his scenes include villages, farmhouses, tree-shaded streams, and, especially, watermills. Hobbema's large, luminous compositions feature a masterly draughtsmanship and painstaking detail; his palette tends to be subdued. Much of his work dates from before 1668, when he married and, with the help of his wife, received an appointment as a municipal tax official. Hobbema's work did not achieve full recognition until after his death, when his superbly organized, tranquil scenes, such as his The Avenue at Middelharnis (1689, National Gallery, London) and Water Mill with a Red Roof (c. 1670, Art Institute of Chicago), were appreciated as the final masterpieces of the Dutch landscape tradition in painting.