This article lists paintings by Frans Post (1612–1680), a Dutch Golden Age artist who was the first European to paint landscapes of the Americas. Frans Post disembarked in Brazil in 1637, following the retinue of John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen, who had recently been appointed as the governor of the Dutch possessions in Northeast Brazil by the Dutch West India Company. Along with Albert Eckhout and Zacharias Wagener, Post was in charge of documenting the new Dutch colonies in South America, but while his companions were devoted to depicting the Brazilian flora, fauna, and people, he focused exclusively on the landscapes of the so-called "New Holland".
Frans Post returned to Europe in 1644, after producing a limited number of in loco artworks, of which only seven have survived. Nevertheless, the exoticism of his landscapes, rich in tropical details yet unknown to the European public, soon attracted the attention of new clients. As a result, Post would devote the rest of his artistic career to the production of paintings with Brazilian themes, based on the sketches and drawings of what he had observed onsite. Post's known output numbers about 160 paintings, practically all of them of Brazilian landscapes. With one known exception Currently in the Bristol museum (2023) he did not date his paintings, making it difficult to establish a precise timeline of his production. A large part of his oeuvre is currently housed in Brazilian museums and collections (Ricardo Brennand Institute in Recife, National Museum of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo Museum of Art, etc.), but several examples of his works may be found around the world, mainly in Europe (Louvre, Rijksmuseum) and the United States. In the following list, artworks are presented in loose chronological order.
Paintings Image Title Date Medium and size Other information Collection / LocationView of the Island of Itamaracá, Brazil 1637Oil on canvas,63.5 × 89.5 cmRijksmuseum, Amsterdam (on loan to the Mauritshuis, The Hague)The Old Portuguese Forte dos Reis Magos, or Fort Ceulen, at the Mouth of the Rio Grande 1638Oil on canvas,62 × 95 cmLouvre, ParisThe Ox Cart — Brazilian Landscape 1638Oil on canvas,61 × 88 cmLouvre, ParisView of Frederiksstad in Paraíba, Brazil 1638Oil on canvas,61 × 91.4 cmFundación Cisneros, CaracasThe Rio São Francisco and Fort Maurits, with a Capybara in the Foreground 1639Oil on canvas,62 × 95 cmLouvre, ParisLandscape near Porto Calvo, with a Fig Tree in the Foreground 1639Oil on panel,63 × 89 cmLouvre, ParisFort Fredrik Hendrik1640Oil on canvas,66 x 88 cmSigned and dated ("F. Post 1640").Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeLandscape of Pernambucoc. 1644–1659Oil on panel,34.3 × 47.3 cmUnsigned.Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de JaneiroChurch of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Igarassuc. 1644–1659Oil on panel,33.4 × 41.4 cmSigned ("F. Post").Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de JaneiroA village in Brazil c. 1645–1680Oil on panel,51.1 x 59.1 cmRoyal Collection, LondonBrazilian landscape with Manoah's sacrifice 1648Oil on canvas,167 x 193 cmMuseum Boijmans Van Beuningen, RotterdamBrazilian landscape with anteater 1649Oil on canvas,53 × 69.4 cmAlte Pinakothek, MunichBrazilian landscape with an armadillo 1649Oil on canvas,53 x 69 cmAlte Pinakothek, MunichPaulo Afonso Falls1649Oil on panel,58.5 × 46 cmSigned and dated ("F. Post 1649").Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São PauloBrazilian landscape1650Oil,unknown dimensionsNederlands Scheepvaartmuseum, AmsterdamA Brazilian landscape 1650Oil on panel,61 x 91.4 cmMetropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkView of Olindac. 1650Oil on canvas,90 × 122 cmFundação Cultural Ema Gordon Klabin, São PauloRuins of the Mother Church of Olindamid-17th centuryOil on canvas,67.5 x 86.5 cmPrivate collection, Rio de JaneiroLandscape with chapel mid-17th centuryOil on panel,43.5 x 58.7 cm.Fundación Cisneros, CaracasLowlandsmid-17th centuryOil on panel,38 × 57.2 cmUnsigned.Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de JaneiroSugar millmid-17th centuryOil on canvas,90.8 × 115.5 cmUnsigned. Contested authorship.Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de JaneiroVillage on a wooded plain mid-17th centuryOil on panel,46 × 75 cmItaú Unibanco collection, São PauloLandscape of Paraíba – Sugar mill with a river mid-17th centuryOil on panel,93 x 79cmPalácio Laranjeiras, Rio de JaneiroLandscape mid-17th centuryOil on panel,22.5 × 32.5 cmMuseu do Estado de Pernambuco, RecifeLandscape mid-17th centuryOil on panel,22.5 × 32.5 cmMuseu do Estado de Pernambuco, RecifeFranciscan monastery in Igaraçu mid-17th centuryOil on panel,48 x 70 cmHistorisches Museum, FrankfurtSugar mill in Pernambuco 17th centuryOil on panel,50 × 74.5 cmPalácio Itamaraty, BrasíliaVillage and a coconut tree17th centuryOil on canvas,50.5 x 68 cmSigned ("F.Post").Beatriz and Mário Pimenta Camargo collection, São PauloBrazilian landscape with a procession of blacks17th centuryOil on panel,48 x 65 cmBeatriz and Mário Pimenta Camargo collection, São PauloVillage17th centuryOil on canvas,43.5 x 67 cmBeatriz and Mário Pimenta Camargo collection, São PauloChurch of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Igarassu17th centuryOil on panel,39 × 48.5 cmFundação Cultural Ema Gordon Klabin, São PauloSugar mill17th centuryOil on canvas,67 × 89 cmMuseu da Chácara do Céu, Rio de JaneiroBrazilian Landscape with the Monastery of Igaraçú17th centuryOil on panel,55 x 69 cmGemäldegalerie, BerlinView of Olindac. 1650–1655Oil on panel,79 x 111.5 cmSigned ("F. Post").Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de JaneiroRuins of the Mother Church of Olinda c. 1650–1655Oil on panel,45 x 70 cmFundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano, São PauloA Monastery of the Capuchin Fathers — The House of a Portuguese Nobleman c. 1650–1655Oil on canvas,101 x 136 cmLouvre, ParisA Sugar Mill Driven by a Small River c. 1650–1655Oil on canvas,117 x 167 cmLouvre, ParisThe Home of a "Labrador" (Sugar Cane Planter) in Brazil (or The Village of Serinhaem) c. 1650–1655Oil on canvas,112 x 146 cmLouvre, ParisThree Different Houses, or "Homes of the Labradores who Plant Sugar" c. 1650–1655Oil on canvas,104x 130 cmLouvre, ParisLandscape in Brazil 1652Oil on canvas,282.5 × 210.5 cmRijksmuseum, AmsterdamBrazilian landscape ("Hacienda")c. 1652Oil on panel,45 × 65 cmLandesmuseum Mainz, MainzView of Mauritsstad and Recife c. 1653Oil on panel, 48.2 x 83.6 cmPrivate collection, São PauloSettlement in Brazil 1654Oil on panel, 51 x 70 cmNederlands Scheepvaartmuseum, AmsterdamWall with horses and slavesc. 1655Oil on panel,19.5 x 19.5 cmUnsigned. Probably a fragment of a larger painting.Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeBrazilian landscape with a worker's house c. 1655Oil on panel,47 × 62.9 cmLos Angeles County Museum of Art, Los AngelesBrazilian landscape with a house under construction c. 1655–1660Oil on panel,46 x 70 cmMauritshuis, The HagueBrazilian landscape 1656Oil on panel,41 x 59 cmFrans Hals Museum, HaarlemPlantation settlement in Brazil 1656Oil on panel,36.9 x 54 cmCarmen Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, on deposit at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, MadridBrazilian landscape 1656Oil on panel,59 × 94 cmWadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, ConnecticutWaterfall in the forest 1657Oil on panel,47 x 44 cmSigned and dated ("F. Post 1657).Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeRiver crossing the lowlands 1658Oil on canvas,62 x 87,5 cmSigned and dated ("F. Post 1658).Beatriz and Mário Pimenta Camargo collection, São PauloBrazilian landscape with the village of Igaraçú. To the left the church of Sts Cosmas and Damian 1659Oil on panel,40 × 61 cmRijksmuseum, AmsterdamLowlands 1659Oil on panel,39 x 60 cmSigned and dated ("F. Post 1659).Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeHuts1659Oil on panel,34 × 51 cmSigned and dated ("F. Post 1659").Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de JaneiroVillage in the interior of Pernambuco 1660Oil on panel,55 x 84 cmFundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano, São PauloLandscape in Brazil with Sugar Plantation 1660Oil on canvas,87 x 113 cmStatens Museum for Kunst, CopenhagenView of a sugar millc. 1660Oil on panel,25.7 × 41.4 cmSigned ("F. Post").Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de JaneiroLandscape with a boac. 1660Oil on canvas,119 × 172 cmSigned ("F. Post").Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São PauloLandscapec. 1660Oil on panel,20 × 30 cmUnsigned.Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeVillage of Olinda, Brazil c. 1660Oil on canvas,82.5 × 130.81 cmChazen Museum of Art, Madison, WisconsinThe Sugar Factory and Plantation of Engenho Real c. 1660Oil on panel,71.5 x 91.5 cmMuseum Boijmans Van Beuningen, RotterdamLandscape with an antbearafter 1660Oil on panel,56 x 79 cmSigned ("F. Post").Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São PauloRural landscape c. 1660–1667Oil on panel,30 x 37 cmPossibly a pendant of Ruins of Olinda, housed in the same collection.Fundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano, São PauloRuins of Olinda c. 1660–1667Oil on panel,30 x 37 cmPossibly a pendant of Rural landscape, housed in the same collection.Fundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano, São PauloLandscape with river and forest c. 1660–1667Oil on panel,63 × 93 cmFundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano, São PauloLandscape with a front porch house c. 1660–1667Oil on panel,21 × 26.5 cmFundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano, São PauloWaterfall with indians c. 1660–1667Oil on panel,30 x 35 cmFundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano, São PauloRiver and village landscapec. 1660–1669Oil on panel,35 x 89 cmSigned ("F. Post").Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeSugar millc. 1660–1669Oil on panel,50 x 69 cmSigned ("F. Post"). Pendant of Village and chapel with portico, housed in the same collection.Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeVillage and chapel with porticoc. 1660–1669Oil on panel,50 x 69 cmSigned ("F. Post"). Pendant of Sugar mill, housed in the same collection.Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeVillage and chapel with porticoc. 1660–1669Oil on canvas,54.5 x 70 cmSigned ("F. Post").Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeView of the area around Olinda c. 1660–1670Oil on panel,43.7 x 59 cmStaatsgalerie Stuttgart, StuttgartBrazilian landscapec. 1660–1670Oil on panel,48.3 x 62.2 cmSigned ("F. Post").National Gallery of Ireland, DublinThe Church of St. Cosmas and St. Damian and The Franciscan Monastery at Igaraçu, Brazil c. 1660–1680Oil on panel,2.8 x 58.8 cmCarmen Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, on deposit at the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, MadridSugar plantation1661Oil on panel,43 x 48cmBeatriz and Mário Pimenta Camargo collection, São PauloView of Olinda, Brazil 1662Oil on canvas,107.5 × 172.5 cmRijksmuseum, AmsterdamBrazilian landscape or Rural landscape in Brazil 1664Oil on panel,34.3 x 41.3 cmJohn and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida,Landscape with ruins of Olinda1664Oil on panel,34.3 x 47.7 cmSigned and dated ("F. Post 1664").Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeRuins of the Mother Church of Olinda c. 1665Oil on canvas,86 x 114 cmInstituto Histórico e Geográfico Brasileiro, Rio de JaneiroBrazilian landscape 1665Oil on canvas,56.2 x 83.5 cmDetroit Institute of Arts, DetroitBrazilian landscape 1665Oil on canvas,46.8 × 62.1 cmHerbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Ithaca, New YorkLandscape of Pernambuco with manor house1665Oil on panel,59 x 94 cmSigned and dated ("F. Post 1665").Museu de Arte de São Paulo, São PauloLandscape with large tree to the right1665Oil on panel,34 x 47 cmSigned and dated ("F. Post 1665").Instituto Ricardo Brennand, RecifeLandscape of Paraíba1665Oil on panel,45 x 53 cmSigned ("F. Post").Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de JaneiroView of the Ruins of Olinda, Brazil 1665Oil on canvas,79.8 x 111.4 cmMuseo Thyssen-Bornemisza, MadridLandscape in Brazil c. 1665–1669Oil on canvas,66 x 88 cmRijksmuseum, AmsterdamSugar mill with a chapel 1667Oil on panel,41 × 53 cmFundação Maria Luisa e Oscar Americano São PauloLandscape of Pernambuco – Indians hunting and fighting 1667Oil on panel,57.8 x 72.5 cmPalácio Laranjeiras Rio de JaneiroIpojuca Village 1667Oil on canvas,45 × 59.7 cmColeção de Arte da Cidade de São Paulo (on loan to the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo),