Artwork
Ships off IJselmonde

Ships off IJselmonde is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Aert Anthoniszoon. It dates from 1617 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a work of marine art, the image represents a specific geographic location and maritime activity from the early 17th century.
The painting depicts a marine scene situated off the coast of IJsselmonde. The composition features a sailing ship as the primary subject, accompanied by a tree within the landscape. As a work of marine art, the image represents a specific geographic location and maritime activity from the early 17th century.
The available sources identify the visual elements but do not provide further details regarding specific iconographic symbolism or deeper allegorical meanings associated with the vessel or the setting.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1617, this marine painting by Aert Anthoniszoon utilizes oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 42.2 cm in height and 80 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition depicts a sailing ship situated off the coast of IJsselmonde, incorporating natural elements such as trees into the seascape. The piece is classified as a work of marine art within the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
History & Provenance
The painting Ships off IJselmonde was created in 1617 by the Dutch artist Aert Anthoniszoon. Executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, the work measures 42.2 cm in height and 80 cm in width. The piece depicts a marine scene featuring sailing ships near IJsselmonde.
Currently, the artwork is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display. No specific details regarding its original commission or intermediate ownership history prior to entering the museum's collection are provided in the available records.
Legacy
The work's influence is noted through its inclusion in the Rijksmuseum collection and continued scholarly reference to Aert Anthoniszoon's marine genre, cementing his reputation as a 17th-century Dutch painter specializing in shipping scenes.
The painting's legacy is anchored in its preservation at the Rijksmuseum, where it is studied as an exemplar of early Dutch marine art and a testament to the technical skill of Aert Anthoniszoon.
Its enduring reputation is reflected in its classification as a significant example of 17th-century Dutch marine painting within museum collections and art historical discourse.
Overview
Aert Anthoniszoon’s 1617 oil painting Ships off IJselmonde presents a calm maritime tableau near the Dutch island of IJsselmonde. The composition balances a foreground vessel with billowing sails against a tranquil sea that mirrors a softly lit sky, while modest buildings and spires rise in the distance.
Context
Created during a period of rapid expansion in Dutch commerce and naval power, the painting exemplifies the era’s artistic interest in documenting everyday port life and the economic vitality of the Republic’s waterways.
Artist & collection
Artist
Aert Anthoniszoon (abbreviated Anthonisz.) or Anthonissen, also known as Aart or Aert van Antum (born c. 1579–1580; buried 7 September 1620) was a Dutch marine painter.

















