JAN ASSELIJN (attr. to) (Dieppe, 1610 - Amsterdam, 1652) View of the Roman countryside with Monte Soratte in the background Oil on canvas, 76.5 x 92 cm Provenance: Genoa, private collection After his apprenticeship with Esaias van de Velde, Asselyn moved to Rome from 1635 to 1644 where, in addition to the influence of Baptist painting, he was particularly influenced by Claude Lorrain. In those years, together with other artists such as Jan Both, Karel Du Jardin, Adam Pynacker, Nicholas Berchem and Jan Baptist Weenix, Asselijn became one of the most representative landscape painters of the Italianising taste that spread throughout Europe. His favourite theme was the Roman countryside, masterfully interpreting the 'Mediterranean' light. These characteristics are well perceived in the work under examination, which describes the Roman countryside and Monte Soratte with extraordinary effectiveness, but the most striking aspect is the way the artist evokes the 'backlit' vision and its dazzling effect with outcomes akin to the art of Claude Lorrain, but achieved with a highly personal and distinctly Nordic sensibility. Reference bibliography: A. C. Steland-Stief, Jan Asselyn, Amsterdam 1971, ad vocem P. Schatborn, Drawn to Warmth. 17th century Dutch artists in Italy, Amsterdam 2001, pp. 100-109 Inspired by Italy. Dutch landscape painting 1600-1700, exhibition catalogue edited by L. B. Harwood, with contributions by Christopher Brown and Anne Charlotte Steland, London 2002, pp. 119-129