Italian Landscape with two Roman Soldiers
c. 1687
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
209; 7.5; 282; 51
About this artwork
See the provenance for SK-A-4213.
Art Historical Context
Gerard de Lairesse's *Italian Landscape with Two Roman Soldiers* (c. 1687) is a grand oil on canvas measuring nearly three meters tall, exemplifying the Dutch Golden Age's fusion of landscape and classical history painting. Born in Liège and active in Amsterdam, Lairesse was a key figure in late 17th-century Dutch art, blending French classicism with Italianate ideals. His elegant, poised figures and luminous landscapes reflect his advocacy for the "grand manner"—a refined style emphasizing harmony, proportion, and noble themes, as outlined in his influential treatise *Het Groot Schilderboek* ...
About the Artist
Gerard de Lairesse · 1641–1711
Gerard de Lairesse (1641–1711) was a leading figure of the Dutch Golden Age, renowned as both a painter and art theorist whose classical ideals bridged the dramatic realism of Rembrandt with the refined elegance of French academism. Born on September 11, 1641, in Liège, he was the second son of the painter Renier de Lairesse (1597–1667). De Lairesse received his initial training under his father b...