Landscape with a River and Two Ships

1634

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Landscape with a River and Two Ships is a 1634 by Anthony van Dyck, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Anthony van Dyck
When & what style?: 1634 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This is a quick drawing by Anthony van Dyck. It shows a river scene with two ships and some trees. Made around 1634, it’s a loose sketch, not a polished picture. Van Dyck drew outside in England, focusing on the wind and mood instead of exact details. The pen lines are fast and lively, capturing trees shaking in the breeze. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The story of this work

Overview

This drawing by Anthony van Dyck depicts a landscape featuring a river with two boats winding through a valley, framed by a wooded hill in the right foreground and rising ground on the opposite side. Created outdoors in a sketchbook with rapid, energetic pen strokes, it captures the movement of trees and shrubs on a breezy day, prioritizing atmospheric effects over topographical precision. The work was not intended for public display.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Anthony van Dyck

Sir Anthony van Dyck (; Dutch: Antoon van Dijck ; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque artist, who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy.

See the richer artist page