Artwork
Boats on a River with a Beacon of Light
Boats on a River with a Beacon of Light is an oil painting by Hendrik Vettewinkel. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The beacon, rendered as a tall, luminous tower, serves as the focal point and suggests guidance or safe passage.
The painting depicts a calm river scene featuring small boats and a prominent beacon of light on the left bank. The beacon, rendered as a tall, luminous tower, serves as the focal point and suggests guidance or safe passage. The presence of the beacon, combined with the tranquil water and modest vessels, evokes themes of navigation and protection, likely symbolizing the importance of maritime safety in the mid-19th century.
The composition emphasizes the interplay between human activity and the natural environment, underscoring the reliance on technological aids for safe travel on waterways.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1847, this marine painting by Hendrik Vettewinkel utilizes oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 37.5 cm in height and 47 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition focuses on maritime subject matter, depicting boats on a river alongside architectural elements such as a house.
The handling of the medium creates a scene centered around a beacon of light, characteristic of the artist's approach to marine genres during this period.
History & Provenance
Hendrik Vettewinkel painted Boats on a River with a Beacon of Light in 1847 as an oil on panel work measuring 37.5 cm by 47 cm. The painting entered the Rijksmuseum collection shortly after its creation and remains on display there. Its marine genre and depiction of a house and boat align with Vettewinkel's known subject matter, and the work is classified within the broader category of marine art.
Overview
Boats on a River with a Beacon of Light, an 1847 oil painting by Hendrik Vettewinkel, presents a serene river scene with moored and floating boats, a few figures, and a distant beacon of light set against a cloudy sky.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
- A Pier Overlooking Dordrecht
Blick über den Fluss auf Goes
River Landscape with a Church in the Distance
View of the Rhine near Hoog-Elten
River Landscape in Moonlight
River View with Church and Ferry
View of Dordrecht
A View of the Maas at Dordrecht
River View with a Man Hunting Ducks
View of the Haarlemmermeer
Fischerboote beim Abrüsten am Abend
Riverview
