Adriaen van de Velde

Adriaen van de Velde was born in 1636 in Amsterdam and became a respected painter of the Dutch Golden Age. He was the son of the marine painter Willem van de Velde the Elder and the brother of Willem van de Velde the Younger. Unlike his family, Adriaen focused primarily on pastoral landscapes and scenes of rural life. His paintings are admired for their clarity, delicate light, and harmonious composition.

Van de Velde often depicted cattle, shepherds, and travelers set within peaceful countryside settings. He was known for his refined technique and careful observation of animals and natural surroundings. In addition to creating his own works, he sometimes added figures and livestock to landscapes painted by other artists. His career was relatively short but highly productive. Adriaen van de Velde died in 1672. Today, his work is valued for its elegance and its contribution to Dutch landscape painting.