Artwork
Fishing Boats in a Calm
Fishing Boats in a Calm is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Jan van de Cappelle. It dates from 1651 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Accession no.
- 16343
- Credit line
- Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson Collection
About this work
Overview
Jan van de Cappelle’s 1651 oil on canvas, Fishing Boats in a Calm, presents a serene harbor scene where modest fishing vessels float on glass‑like water under a muted sky. The composition is dominated by subtle tonal harmonies, with the horizon line barely discernible, creating an atmosphere of stillness that invites quiet contemplation.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on a cluster of small fishing boats anchored in placid waters, suggesting a moment of repose between the labor of the sea and the calm of a restful day. The low‑lying clouds and soft light convey a sense of balance between human activity and nature’s tranquil rhythm.
Technique & Style
Van de Cappelle achieved the luminous surface through multiple thin glazes, allowing underlying tones to shine through and produce delicate reflections on the water. His restrained palette and meticulous handling of light echo the Dutch Golden Age’s interest in realism, while the smooth brushwork emphasizes the almost photographic clarity of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created in Amsterdam, where the artist also oversaw his family’s dyeworks producing carmine pigment, the painting entered the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection in the early 20th century. It has remained a representative example of van de Cappelle’s oeuvre and of mid‑17th‑century Dutch maritime painting.
Context
During the Dutch Golden Age, seascapes served both decorative and documentary purposes, reflecting the Republic’s maritime prosperity. Van de Cappelle, a contemporary of Willem van de Velde the Elder, specialized in calm water scenes, distinguishing his work from the more dramatic stormy vistas favored by some of his peers.
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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…
