Dutch golden age

Spanning the 17th century in Holland, it was a time when this area was among the most famous in the world for its wide-ranging trade, scientific and military ascendancy and excellence in the arts. Dutch Golden Age Painters included Johannes Vermeer, Jan Van Steen, Frans Hals, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Rembrandt Van Rijn. Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Golden_Age