HOBBEIWA, ht,b'hti-mii, 31E1 ( 1635.
1709). A Dutch landscape painter. His birth place is unknown, although seven towns. Amster darn among them, claim the honor. The date of birth, 1035, is verified by the statement in the record of his marriage at Amsterdam. Octo ber 2, IC08. that he was thirty years old at that time. Ilobbema passed most of his life at Amsterdam, where he seems to have been a pupil cf Ruysdael (q.v.). As such well-known con temporaries ns Berchen. Vandevehle. and Lingel bach are said to have painted the figures in his landscapes. it seems likely that he was appre ciated by the artists of his day. The general public, however. ignored his work, and he died at Amsterdam in poverty. December It. 1709.
Hobbema and Ruysdael are the greatest land scape painters of the Dutch school; their art mnarks its consummation. Ruysdael is usually considered the greater of the two because his subjects are grander; he painted rocky gorges, torrents rushing through ravines, stormy autumn scenes, while preferred the gentler aspects of nature. such as quiet woodland scenes, pools of water with subtle sunlight effects, ro mantic water-mills and streams. In subtlety of technique he was the equal, probably the su perior, of nuys,lael. Iii• pictures are rich in warm and golden tones. and his color has a transparent quality, xfith brilliant. effects re flected in sky and water. His technique is bold in touch, but careful in finish of details. No one has better portrayed the magical effects of sun light. Ile is more absolutely (rue to nature than Buysdael: his trees are more individual, with greater variety of foliage and color. It was not
until the eighteenth century that his merit was appreciated. The English were the first to ac knowledge it. and therefore far the greater num ber of his best works are now in the private cellections of England. Ilobbema also exercised great influence upon the English landscape paint ers of the latter eighteenth century. especially upon Old Crone. At present hi- works are much sought after, and their high value has caused forgeries of signatures and slates upon his paint ings. It is therefore impossible to date them with accuracy.
Of all public collections the National Gallery is richest in works of llobbema, possessing live of his landscapes. The best known of these is the "Avenue Near 3liddelharnis. Holland," ono of the (owns claiming to be his birthplace. The effect of its perspective is very remark able, as is also the glowing light from the sky. Another fine picture in the National Gallery is the "Ruins of Breberode Castle." faithfully rendered, just as it now stands on the road to Haarlem. The Glasgow Gallery is rich in his pictures, and Amsterdam has several, includ ing the famous "‘Vater-Mill." There are also good examples in the Louvre, and in the gal leries at Brussels, Berlin, Dresden. frankfort, and Vienna. The Metropolitan Museum. New York, pos-e--es a "Landscape View in Holland." Consult :Michel, //o/Acato • I lee paysagistes de .son temps en Hollande (Paris, 1890),