Working mainly in his birthplace of Haarlem, Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668) became the best known of a Dutch family of painters. At the time that he joined the local guild, in 1640, his paintings displayed the influence of 'Bamboccio' (Pieter van Laer, 1599-1642), who had developed a specialism in scenes of street life during a long sojourn in Rome. However, Wouwerman soon established his independence by concentrating on hilly landscapes peopled with lively equestrian figures: cavaliers, hunters and travellers. He also contributed figures to the landscapes of other artists, such as Ruisdael. The immense popularity of his images was sustained throughout the eighteenth century, partly through the dissemination of engraved reproductions. For Ruskin's opinion of the artist, see Ruskin on Wouwerman.