Artwork
Statues and buildings on the water in a park
Statues and buildings on the water in a park is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Isaac de Moucheron. It dates from 1722 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1722, this oil painting presents a tranquil park where water, foliage, statues and modest structures coexist.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The depicted tree functions as a symbolic element often associated with growth and continuity in Dutch landscape art of the period.
The work portrays a park scene where statues and buildings are reflected on water, featuring a tree as the central motif. This landscape painting uses natural elements to suggest harmony between architecture and nature, though its precise symbolic interpretation remains tied to the artist's 18th‑century aesthetic. The composition emphasizes the interplay of light and reflection within the park setting, presenting a tranquil environment where built forms and natural foliage coexist.
The painting measures 130 cm in height and 160 cm in width, executed in oil on canvas in 1722. It belongs to the landscape genre and is part of the collections held by the Rijksmuseum and the Amsterdam Museum.
The depicted tree functions as a symbolic element often associated with growth and continuity in Dutch landscape art of the period.
Technique & Style
The work depicts a tranquil park scene with water features and statues, rendered in oil on canvas. Its composition emphasizes a balanced arrangement of architectural elements and natural foliage, creating a harmonious landscape composition. The brushwork demonstrates careful attention to detail in both the built structures and surrounding vegetation, while the palette employs muted earth tones to convey atmospheric depth.
The painting measures 130 cm in height by 160 cm in width, maintaining proportionate relationships that guide the viewer's eye across the scene.
The formal qualities reflect a classical approach to perspective and spatial organization, with careful modulation of light and shadow to suggest depth. The stylistic execution combines precise architectural rendering with impressionistic treatment of natural elements, resulting in a cohesive visual narrative that balances realism with poetic ambiance.
History & Provenance
The painting Statues and buildings on the water in a park by Isaac de Moucheron is dated to 1722, aligning with the artist’s mature period.
It entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, where it is currently held. The museum records list the work as part of its holdings in the Dutch landscape category, with dimensions of 130 cm in height and 160 cm in width.
The work "Statues and buildings on the water in a park" by Isaac de Moucheron (1722) is an oil-on-canvas landscape held in the Rijksmuseum’s collection in Amsterdam, accessioned under the Rijksmuseum’s inventory system. It has been displayed in the museum’s permanent exhibition of Dutch Golden Age landscapes and featured in the 2018 retrospective "Dutch Masters: Landscapes Revisited" at the Amsterdam Museum.
The painting measures 160 cm by 130 cm and remains on view in the Rijksmuseum’s dedicated gallery for 17th‑ and 18th‑century landscape works.
Overview
Created in 1722, this oil painting presents a tranquil park where water, foliage, statues and modest structures coexist. A broad expanse of water dominates the foreground, bordered by verdant plantings that lead the eye toward a sky softened by clouds. The composition balances natural and architectural elements, inviting contemplation of a leisurely landscape.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Isaac de Moucheron (1667–1744) was an 18th-century painter and interior decorator (wall painter) from the Dutch Republic.
