Jan Blom (1621–1685)

Landscape with Travellers and a Fountain

Oil on canvas

Mid-17th century

This atmospheric landscape by Jan Blom captures the serene, contemplative mood that characterises the finest works of the Dutch Golden Age. Set within a vast, gently illuminated countryside, the scene unfolds with a subtle narrative rhythm: two travellers pause beside an ornate fountain crowned by a sculpted figure, their horses resting while a slender hunting dog observes the quiet surroundings. In the distance, faint silhouettes of riders disappear toward the horizon, deepening the sense of space and journey.

Blom’s mastery lies in his ability to blend Dutch naturalism with the Italianate sensibility so admired in mid-17th-century Amsterdam. The tall poplars rising against the pale sky, the warm tonal transitions, and the soft Mediterranean light evoke the influence of Jan Both and Nicolaes Berchem, while the earthy foreground and understated drama remain unmistakably Dutch.

The fountain—whimsical, sculptural, almost fantastical—anchors the composition. It introduces a subtle mythological note, suggesting themes of travel, rest, and the encounter between man and the classical world. The figures themselves are rendered with remarkable delicacy, their relaxed postures imbuing the work with a human presence that remains calm rather than theatrical.

In this painting, Blom demonstrates his rare ability to fuse poetic stillness with narrative detail, creating a landscape that is both visually expansive and intimately inhabited. It is a beautifully balanced example of his oeuvre: refined in palette, sensitive in composition, and quietly evocative of the 17th-century fascination with nature, travel, and the pastoral ideal.