Landscape with a Large Tree (from the New Book of Landscapes)
Print (Etching on laid paper) • Attributed to the circle or manner of Roelandt Savery (or possibly after printmakers like Jan van Vliet or print publishers active in the 17th-century Dutch/Flemish tradition; signature at bottom center reads 'Ru[...] f.')
Style & Movement
Dutch/Flemish Baroque, Golden Age Landscape Printmaking
Medium & Technique
Etching, utilizing fine hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling to create complex textures and tonal variations in foliage, gnarled wood, and sky
Creation Period
circa 1610-1650 (17th Century)
Dimensions & Format
Estimated plate mark approx. 15 x 22 cm, sheet approx. 18 x 25 cm, horizontal landscape format
Subject Description
A dense, romanticized northern European forest landscape dominated by a massive, gnarled, and partially dead ancient tree with sprawling roots in the foreground. In the background left, small figures with a dog walk along a path, while a small thatched cottage or rustic building is nestled among foliage on the right. The sky features volumetric clouds.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good. The paper exhibits age-related toning, minor edge creasing, slight staining near the bottom right corner, and the sheet is tipped or mounted onto a larger backing sheet typical of historic collection albums.
Estimated Market Value
$800 - $1,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$500 - $1,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely removed from a 17th- or 18th-century European collection album, indicated by the historical cream-colored backing mount and uniform paper aging.
Art Historical Significance
Representative of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish printmaking traditions that elevated landscape as an independent genre, drawing inspiration from Mannerist and early Baroque naturalism with strong emphasis on the picturesque decay of gnarled trees.
Notable Features
Includes a visible historic signature inscription 'Ru[...] f.' at the bottom center margin, highly detailed etching work on the intricate root system and dead branches, and mounted on heavy historic album paper.
Condition Issues
Minor foxing, acidic toning from the historic mount, slight rippling of the thin paper sheet, and potential trimming close to or along the borderlines.
Conservation Recommendations
Hinge-mount using acid-free materials if unframing/re-matting, store and display away from direct sunlight in UV-protective framing with stable relative humidity (45-50%).