oil on canvas
20 x 22 3/4 in. (50.8 x 57.8 cm.)
PROVENANCE

PROVENANCEPrivate Collection, U.S.A.The Dutch painter Jan Griffier was born in Amsterdam. He was first apprenticed to a carpenter, a tile painter and a flower painter before becoming a pupil of the etcher and landscape painter Roelant Roghman. Griffier also studied informally with such noted landscape masters as Adriaen van de Velde (1636-72), Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/9-82) and possibly Rembrandt. After the Great Fire of 1666, Griffier moved to London, England. During his extremely prolific years in London, he painted numerous highly finished, small London and Rhineland views. His expertise as an etcher expanded tremendously during these years: he produced a number of etchings of birds and animals as well as many mezzotint portraits. Owning a yacht he traveled extensively around England and produced numerous landscapes many of which are now on permanent display in Tate Gallery in London.  Griffier briefly returned to Holland for work, but finally made London his home. Critics note that mixed scenes of rivers and rich country were his favorite subjects.