The most characteristic tree of the north coast of the Mediterranean, it has long been associated with cemeteries and other places of grief.
trees
Coppice stools, cut to just above ground level, and pollards cut high enough to stop them from being damaged by cattle, were commonly used to produce supplies of timber.
Paintings of Jacob van Ruisdael, probably the first in which species can be distinguished reliably, and leaf forms are depicted accurately, plus delights from Paulus Potter and Jan van der Heyden.
Trees play a major role in many of his paintings, particularly the holm oak. He models variation in colour and texture of bark and other subtle details, to set a high standard.
Collaborated with Jan Brueghel the Elder in early paintings, created his own landscapes from 1625, and a wonderful series of landscapes during his retirement in 1635-1640.
Piero della Francesca’s common walnut tree, several types by Giorgione, mixed woodland by Albrecht Altdorfer, wonderful examples from the Brueghels, and two plein air oil sketches by Velázquez.
Humans have lived with trees since our origins, and trees feature in many paintings. This explains the importance of sketching them from life, and shows examples of different species and contrasting artists from Rubens and van Ruisdael to van Gogh and CĂ©zanne.
Second and concluding article, including paintings by van Gogh, Chase, Monet, Pissarro, CĂ©zanne and others.
The first of two articles about painting trees, featuring Rubens, Poussin, Gainsborough, Constable, Corot and others.
More paintings of cypresses by Vincent van Gogh, Renoir, Modigliani, and Gustav Klimt.
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