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Imitator of Jan van Goyen, 'Sailing Vessels on a River in a Breeze', 1650s

About the work

Because of the presence of a signature and a date, this painting was once thought to be by Jan van Goyen, one of the great Dutch marine painters of the seventeenth century. Both, however, were found to be false and have been removed, so the picture is now attributed to an unknown follower.

Small boats are shown dashing through the waves at speed, two of them probably flying the flag of Rotterdam, though the colour has faded. The distant town is unidentified. An odd touch for us is the cows apparently walking on water; a closer look reveals they are on a spit of land jutting into the water, coming to a seemingly precarious end just in front of them.

Key facts

Full title
Sailing Vessels on a River in a Breeze
Artist
Imitator of Jan van Goyen
Artist dates
1596 - 1656
Date made
1650s
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
37.1 × 53.1 cm
Acquisition credit
Salting Bequest, 1910
Inventory number
NG2577
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection
Previous owners

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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