Artwork

Burgomaster Cornelis Damasz. van der Gracht and his Wife, Jopken Jacobs, in a Landscape

Burgomaster Cornelis Damasz. van der Gracht and his Wife, Jopken Jacobs, in a Landscape is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan van Goyen. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The figures' attire and upright posture convey civic dignity, while the surrounding land underscores their connection to local governance and prosperity.

The painting portrays Burgomaster Cornelis Damasz. van der Gracht and his wife Jopken Jacobs standing in an open landscape, rendered in a characteristic tonal style. The couple is positioned at the center of a broad, flat Dutch vista, with a river and distant town behind them, emphasizing their social status within a cultivated environment. The figures' attire and upright posture convey civic dignity, while the surrounding land underscores their connection to local governance and prosperity.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in oil paint on a panel support, measuring 76 cm in height and 106.5 cm in width, and was created in 1635. The piece combines the formal qualities of a family portrait with those of a landscape painting. While the work is primarily attributed to Jan van Goyen, some catalogue records also list Gerard Donck as a creator.

History & Provenance

The painting Burgomaster Cornelis Damasz. van der Gracht and his Wife, Jopken Jacobs, in a Landscape was painted in 1635 in oil on panel, measuring 76 cm by 106.5 cm. The work is attributed to Jan van Goyen, with some records also noting Gerard Donck. The painting entered the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display.

Overview

Jan van Goyen’s 1635 oil painting portrays a married couple positioned on a rural road beneath a sky mottled with clouds. The figures, both dressed in dark garments, the man in a broad‑brimmed hat and the woman in a black dress with a white collar, are set against a modest landscape of trees and open field, creating a calm, balanced composition.