Dutch painter and printmaker, Jan Both (1618-1652), was one of the most celebrated of Italianate landscape painters, rivalled only by Nicolaes Berchem. On finishing studies with Abraham Bloemaert (1564-1651) in his birthplace of Utrecht, Both spent four years in Italy (c1637-41) in the company of his brother, the painter Andries Both (c1612-1641). Following his brother's death, he returned to Utrecht and introduced an innovatory form of landscape, inspired by the work of Claude but rejecting his use of historical subjects. Instead, he peopled his pictures with contemporary figures, such as peasants or travellers, gazing on Roman ruins. Proving highly popular with English collectors, these works made a significant and durable contribution to ideas about Italy.