Jan Dircksz Both (1615/18-1652) - attributed to

Dutch painter and draftsman Jan Dirksz Both contributed significantly to the development of Dutch landscape painting inspired by Italian art. Both initially learned to paint from his father, who was a glass painter in Utrecht. Later, he was a pupil of Abraham Bloemaert. Both subsequently traveled through France to Rome and focused on painting landscapes in the style of Claude Lorrain. In 1646 he returned to Utrecht, where he continued to refine his imaginary landscape paintings lit by the golden Mediterranean light. Sometimes he adds religious or mythological staffage to his paintings. This painting shows a rocky wooded landscape with a view to the outer reaches of the mountains, right side is lined with decaying remnants of trees, while the left side shows a cave with St Jerome praying.