Jacob van Ruysdael (1628 Haarlem - 1682 Amsterdam) Circumference/Successor Vast landscape with church tower and castle ruins A wide, flat landscape stretches out beneath grey, stormy clouds with occasional rays of sunlight shining through. The outline of a ruin can be seen in the foreground on the right, the centre of the picture is dominated by a church tower set slightly to the left, while behind it a windmill and another church tower can be seen on the horizon. This landscape motif can be found in two works by van Ruysdael in the National Gallery in London (cf. NG990 and NG2561). Associations with North Holland landscapes around Haarlem, where van Ruysdael grew up and completed his training, are evident, but the exact topographical location and the main church could not be identified, which is why it is assumed that the present cabinet painting is an idealised landscape. Oil on canvas, relined. 43 cm x 48.2 cm. Frame. Provenance: Dissolution of an important German private collection - Part II. Circle or follower of Jacob van Ruysdael (1628 - 1682). Oil on relined canvas.