Anton Mauve

Anton Mauve was a Dutch painter and a leading figure of the Hague School, a group who painted the Dutch landscape and rural life in muted, silvery gray tones. Born in 1838, he became known for tender scenes of shepherds, flocks of sheep, and figures working in fields and on beaches, all bathed in the hazy light of the Low Countries. His restrained color and understated mood set the tone for much Dutch art of his day.

He was also a cousin by marriage of Vincent van Gogh and briefly gave the younger man lessons in painting, though their relationship soon soured. Mauve's tender handling of animals and weather made him popular with collectors on both sides of the Atlantic. His calm rural scenes remain among the most beloved works of the Hague School.