Artwork
The Old Gate
The Old Gate is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Charles Leickert. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes the interplay between human scale and monumental structure, evoking both the persistence and impermanence of built environments.
The work depicts a city gate at dusk framed by a low horizon and a luminous sky, conveying the quiet passage of time in an urban setting. The gate itself is rendered with muted tones and softened edges, suggesting the fading light of evening rather than an imposing barrier. In the foreground, a few figures move along a path, their silhouettes small against the expanse of the gate and surrounding architecture, which underscores themes of transience and the everyday.
The composition emphasizes the interplay between human scale and monumental structure, evoking both the persistence and impermanence of built environments.
Technique & Style
The Old Gate is an oil painting executed on a panel support by Charles Leickert in 1850. The work belongs to the cityscape genre, depicting an urban scene with the formal characteristics typical of the artist's mid-19th-century output. The physical dimensions of the panel measure 23.5 cm in height and 18.8 cm in width.
The medium consists of oil paint applied to the wooden panel, a durable support material common for works of this classification.
History & Provenance
The Old Gate, an oil painting by Charles Leickert, was created in 1850. The work is executed in oil on panel, measuring 23.5 by 18.8 centimetres, and depicts a cityscape. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains located. No additional details regarding commission, prior ownership, or intermediate provenance are documented in the available sources.
The Old Gate is held by the Rijksmuseum, where it is catalogued under the accession number SK-A-2665. The work was created in 1850 by Charles Leickert using oil paint on panel, measuring 23.5 cm in height and 18.8 cm in width. It has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition and was featured in the 1988 exhibition "Dutch Cityscapes of the 19th Century" at the Rijksmuseum.
Exhibition history includes its display in the 1988 exhibition "Dutch Cityscapes of the 19th Century" at the Rijksmuseum.
Overview
The Old Gate is an oil-on-canvas painting created by Charles Leickert around 1850. It is a cityscape that exemplifies the characteristics of the Biedermeier style.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Henri Joseph Leickert (22 September 1816, Brussels – 5 December 1907, Mainz) was a Dutch painter of landscapes. As a specialist in winter landscapes, he explored the nuances of the evening sky and the rosy-fingered dawn.
