Jan van Goyen, 'The Mouth of an Estuary with a Gateway', 1649
Full title | The Mouth of an Estuary with a Gateway |
---|---|
Artist | Jan van Goyen |
Artist dates | 1596 - 1656 |
Date made | 1649 |
Medium and support | oil on wood |
Dimensions | 33.2 × 47.6 cm |
Inscription summary | Signed; Dated |
Acquisition credit | Presented by Mrs Alice Bleecker, 1981 |
Inventory number | NG6464 |
Location | Not on display |
Collection | Main Collection |
The huge sky and the grey – but luminous – tones of this painting are typical of Jan van Goyen’s landscapes and seascapes. About three quarters of the composition is devoted to the towering clouds and the grey haze which obscures the brighter blues above; still more space is used to capture the bright reflections in the waters of the estuary.
But this picture isn’t only about the sea and the sky, it is also a portrayal of everyday life. In the shadowy foreground we see passengers being rowed in a ferry and a woman dipping a basket over the quay. Two men moor a boat; others deliver cargo. The building at the left appears to be a water-gate of a type which appeared at the entrance of many Dutch towns.
Along with Salomon van Ruysdael, van Goyen was one of the pioneers of a naturalistic approach to landscapes and seascapes. This work was made towards the end of his career.
The huge sky and the grey – but luminous – tones of this painting are typical of Jan van Goyen’s landscapes and seascapes. About three quarters of the composition is devoted to the towering clouds and the grey haze which obscures the brighter blues above; still more space is used to capture the bright reflections in the waters of the estuary.
But this picture isn’t only about the sea and the sky, it is also a portrayal of everyday life. In the shadowy foreground we see passengers being rowed in a ferry and a woman dipping a basket over the quay. Two men moor a boat; others deliver cargo. The building at the left appears to be a water-gate of a type which appeared at the entrance of many Dutch towns. Its specific location has not been identified.
Along with Salomon van Ruysdael, van Goyen was one of the pioneers of a naturalistic approach to landscapes and seascapes. This work was made towards the end of his career.
Download a low-resolution copy of this image for personal use.
License and download a high-resolution image for reproductions up to A3 size from the National Gallery Picture Library.
License imageThis image is licensed for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons agreement.
Examples of non-commercial use are:
- Research, private study, or for internal circulation within an educational organisation (such as a school, college or university)
- Non-profit publications, personal websites, blogs, and social media
The image file is 800 pixels on the longest side.
As a charity, we depend upon the generosity of individuals to ensure the collection continues to engage and inspire. Help keep us free by making a donation today.
You must agree to the Creative Commons terms and conditions to download this image.