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Cuyp based this landscape on sketches which he made when he visited the site in 1652, but he transformed the typically gray Dutch atmosphere with a warm, Italianate glow. Although Cuyp never traveled to Italy, the adoption of sunny, southern light effects is a hallmark of his style.
The historic town of Nijmegen, with its medieval fortifications, was a popular subject with Dutch artists. The citadel known as the Valkhof had a strong patriotic appeal as the stronghold of Claudius Civilis, the ancient hero who led the Batavians in revolt against the Romans.
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