This late-19th-century oil painting by Dutch artist Alexander Hieronymus Bakhuyzen (1826-1878) depicts a landscape with a cottage, figures and cattle. Bakhuyzen was an accomplished painter/etcher and the nephew of distinguished artist and art teacher, Hendrik van de Sande Bakhuyzen (1795-1860).Without question, the Dutch landscape artists of the 17th century were conspicuous for their mastery. Luminaries such as Jan van Goyen (1596-1656), Jan Dirksz Both (1618-1652), Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/9-1682) and Meindert Hobbema (1638-1709) reimagined the way nature could be portrayed. In turn, paving the way for future generations who were captivated by their spell.The Dutch had a unique advantage, during the 17th century, flourishing cities such as Amsterdam and Haarlem were alive with new wealth. Merchants flooded in from overseas and created a buoyant economy perfect for the arts. But unlike many other European cities, artists working here were not constrained by the wishes of the C...