Family stroll

Title: Family stroll, Oil painting on canvas, hand-signed by the artist. Fully Framed. Important extra: A letter from the artist and his wife to good friends, dated 's-Gravenhage 12 juni 1874', is attached to the reverse. Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove (1790–1880) was a Dutch painter, designer, and art teacher, best known for his romantic cityscapes and architectural scenes. Born in The Hague, he became a prominent figure in 19th-century Dutch art and played a key role in the transition from classical to romantic painting in the Netherlands. Van Hove specialized in town views, church interiors, and theatrical stage designs, often capturing the historical charm of Dutch cities with fine detail and a warm, atmospheric style. His works typically featured picturesque urban scenes, often bathed in soft light and populated with figures that added life and narrative to the settings. He was also a highly influential teacher, serving as director of the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, where he mentored many notable Dutch artists, such as Johannes Bosboom, Wijnand Nuijen, Charles Leickert, Sam Verveer, Carel Jacobus Behr, Charles Rochussen and Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch, even including his son Hubertus van Hove. Van Hove was a member of the artist society Pulchri Studio, which he helped found, and his work contributed to the cultural vitality of The Hague during the 19th century. He remained active in both painting and teaching until his death in 1880.