Gabriël, Paul Joseph Constantin

Gabriël, Paul Joseph Constantin (b Amsterdam, 5 July 1828; d Scheveningen, 23 Aug. 1903).
Dutch painter, primarily of landscapes (but also of flower pieces). Best known for views of meadows, canals, and windmills, he is regarded as a member of the Hague School, even though he spent much of his life in Brussels (1860–84) and was more appreciated in Belgium and France than in his own country. His liking for cheerful colours also distinguishes him from other members of the Hague School, who favoured grey, atmospheric effects; in 1901 he wrote, ‘Although I may sometimes seem rather grumpy, I really love it when the sun shines on the water; and, quite apart from that, I think my country is colourful.’ Mondrian admired the almost geometrical quality of Gabriël's compositions and in 1895 he made a copy of his In the Month of July (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam).