Artwork
Calm sea with fishing boats
Calm sea with fishing boats is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan van de Cappelle. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Calm sea with fishing boats is an oil painting on canvas by Jan van de Cappelle, executed in 1659.
Calm sea with fishing boats is an oil painting on canvas by Jan van de Cappelle, executed in 1659. The work belongs to the marine genre and measures 54.5 cm in height by 66.5 cm in width, a modest horizontal format suited to its seascape subject. It is classified as a painting and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, with the canvas support and oil paint medium documented through the museum's records.
The relatively small scale and landscape-oriented canvas are characteristic of Dutch marine painting of the period, allowing for an intimate treatment of a tranquil coastal or estuarine scene populated by fishing boats.
History & Provenance
The painting was completed in 1659 by Jan van de Cappelle, as indicated by the artist’s date on the work and corroborated by its Wikidata entry.
By the early 21st century it had entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, administered by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. The painting is recorded in the Rijksmuseum’s depot with dimensions of 54.5 cm in height and 66.5 cm in width.
Jan van de Cappelle's 1659 marine painting, Calm sea with fishing boats, is held within the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands Art Collection (Rijksmuseum). The work is currently stored in the depot of the Rijksmuseum, designated as depot RCE. It is executed in oil paint on canvas, measuring 54.5 cm in height and 66.5 cm in width. The provided sources do not list any specific exhibition history for this piece.
Overview
Calm Sea with Fishing Boats is a 1659 oil painting by Jan van de Cappelle, a Dutch Golden Age artist recognized for his serene seascapes. The work captures a peaceful maritime scene, characteristic of the Dutch marine genre.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts two unoccupied wooden fishing boats on a calm sea, with a larger sailboat and a smaller, flat-bottomed vessel. A few distant ships and minimal figures on the smaller boat subtly populate the tranquil environment, emphasizing serenity.
Context
As a product of the Dutch Golden Age, the painting reflects the era's fascination with maritime themes, often symbolizing the country's prosperity and dominance in shipping and trade during the 17th century.
Legacy
While specific legacy details of Calm Sea with Fishing Boats are not highlighted, it contributes to the broader appreciation of Van de Cappelle's contributions to Dutch maritime painting and the enduring appeal of serene, meticulously crafted seascapes from the Golden Age.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van de Cappelle (or Joannes / van der / Capelle in various combinations; 25 January 1626 (baptized) – 22 December 1679 (buried)) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of seascapes and winter landscapes, also notable as an industrialist and…
