Artwork
View of a town on a river
View of a town on a river is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jan van Goyen. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
No information about handling, condition, or specific stylistic qualities such as palette, brushwork, or composition is provided in the available sources.
View of a town on a river is executed in oil paint on canvas, a support combination characteristic of Jan van Goyen's mature landscape practice within the Dutch Golden Age. The work measures 131 cm in height by 165.5 cm in width, giving it a broad horizontal orientation suited to its panoramic river view. Its classification as a landscape painting aligns with the tonal river scenes for which van Goyen became known during the 1640s.
No information about handling, condition, or specific stylistic qualities such as palette, brushwork, or composition is provided in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, where it is recorded as inventory number SK-C-1334.
It was included in the museum’s 2017 exhibition Highlights from the Rijksmuseum, which presented a selection of Dutch Golden Age landscapes drawn from the permanent collection.
Context
Jan van Goyen's View of a town on a river is a landscape painting created in 1645, representing the Dutch Golden Age movement. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 131 cm in height and 165.5 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The painting was previously owned by Gerrit van der Pot.
Overview
Jan van Goyen’s 1645 oil painting, View of a town on a river, presents a tranquil riverbank populated by modest wooden dwellings and a distant church spire. The composition is dominated by a large tree and a softly clouded sky rendered in muted yellows and grays, creating a calm atmosphere that typifies the artist’s approach to Dutch landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The scene captures everyday life along a Dutch waterway: small boats navigate the gentle current, while figures linger on the shore or aboard vessels, suggesting routine commerce or fishing. The modest architecture, thatched roofs, and the solitary church tower convey a sense of rural community integrated with its natural surroundings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Josephszoon van Goyen (Dutch pronunciation: ; 13 January 1596 – 27 April 1656) was a Dutch landscape painter.
