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Jan van Goyen, 'An Estuary with Fishing Boats and Two Frigates', about 1650-6

About the work

Overview

Huge clouds float across a wide sky, seeming to dwarf everything below – even the two frigates heading way out to sea, sails raised, tall and majestic. Frigates were light warships that protected the giant merchant vessels that were the lifeblood of the new Dutch Republic, reaching out across the world and bringing wealth to the small but powerful nation. Van Goyen has placed them almost centrally, with a clear sweep of water between them and us – it’s as if everything has moved aside to allow them freedom of the waterways.

We don’t know if the painting represents a specific place. It’s probably an amalgamation of small scenes from van Goyen’s many drawings. He worked extremely fast, but speed didn’t prevent him from portraying a poetic vision of the Dutch landscape that holds the gaze and appeals to the imagination.

Key facts

Details

Full title
An Estuary with Fishing Boats and Two Frigates
Artist
Jan van Goyen
Artist dates
1596 - 1656
Date made
about 1650-6
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
49.5 × 69.1 cm
Acquisition credit
Bequeathed by Sir John Heathcoat Amory, with life interest to Lady Amory by whom presented, 1973
Inventory number
NG6423
Location
Room 23
Collection
Main Collection
Frame
17th-century Dutch Frame

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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