Philips Wouwerman, 'A Dune Landscape with a River and Many Figures', probably 1660-68
About the work
Overview
Wouwerman’s small painting of the Dutch landscape is full of incident: everywhere are little stories to tell, details to pick out. The landscape in the distance seems empty but nearer to us people enliven the scene. Two horsemen studiously ignore the beggars who approach them. They‘re followed by a shadowy figure holding a sword and beyond, a man with a huge pack, perhaps a pedlar. Is the figure coming down the dune with a rabbit dangling from his stick a poacher or gamekeeper? A grand coach passes while men fish or shoot at birds.
Most intriguing is the yacht on the left sailing serenely on the river. It appears to have a coat of arms on the stern – perhaps it’s making for the imposing house beyond the trees. But the man sailing it doesn’t appear to have noticed the low-arched bridge, and even with the sail and mast lowered the boat’s journey seems ill-fated.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- A Dune Landscape with a River and Many Figures
- Artist
- Philips Wouwerman
- Artist dates
- 1619 - 1668
- Date made
- probably 1660-68
- Medium and support
- oil on wood
- Dimensions
- 23.5 × 30.5 cm
- Inscription summary
- Signed
- Acquisition credit
- Bought, 1871
- Inventory number
- NG882
- 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.
Images
More works by Philips Wouwerman
