An Italianate landscape with a shepherd and shepherdess sheltering under a tree with animals; and An Italianate landscape with a peasant family resting with cattle by a fountain

Whilst many of van den Bergen's paintings survive, very few are actually dated, and the latest known date for his work is 1690, like the first landscape of this pair. It is also interesting to note that the artist has re-used incised copper engraving plates as supports. Although Houbraken records that the artist travelled rather unsuccessfully to England, there is no record of him in Italy, and the Italianate ambience of much of van den Bergen's oeuvre is inspired by his teacher, Adriaen van de Velde. Van den Bergen lived a colourful life; despite his pictures selling well, he died in poverty by 1702 at the latest, when the Haarlem Guild records refer to him as deceased.