Willem van Bemmel (German 1630-1708) Figures in an extensive landscapeOil on canvasInitials in ligature and dated 1667 (lower left)78 x 103cm (30½ x 40½ in.) Willem van Bemmel was born in Utrecht, and with his brother Jacob, studied under Herman Saftleven. He made a Grand Tour to Italy, spending 1647-9 in Venice before moving to Rome where he stayed for six years and became a member of the Bentvueghels (Dutch for Birds of a Feather) painting society of mostly Dutch and Flemish artists active in Rome. After Italy he spent time in London before returning to Germany. He was known for his Italianate landscapes such as the present work and was the father of the German Von Bemmel painting family of Nuremberg. From Rome he crossed the Alps to Nuremberg Medium Oil on canvas