The Herepad in the Haagse Bos

The surface shows typical handling of oil on panel with subtle craquelure in the sky area, though the varnish remains largely intact.

The work is an oil painting executed on wooden panel. It measures 23 cm by 34 cm and was created in The Hague in 1778.

The surface shows typical handling of oil on panel with subtle craquelure in the sky area, though the varnish remains largely intact. Brushwork is precise in the architectural elements, while the foliage is rendered with looser strokes that convey atmospheric depth.

Stylistically, the composition balances topographical accuracy with a softened, almost romantic treatment of light, characteristic of late 18th‑century Dutch cityscapes.

The Herepad in the Haagse Bos was painted by Paulus Constantijn la Fargue in 1778, as indicated by the artist’s dated signature on the work. The painting depicts a cityscape of The Hague, specifically the Herepad in the Haagse Bos area, rendered in oil on panel.

The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains housed today. It is catalogued with dimensions of 23 cm in height and 34 cm in width, confirming its status as a panel painting of modest scale.

The Herepad in the Haagse Bos is held in the Rijksmuseum collection under its current inventory number, though the specific accession identifier is not provided in the sources. The work was created in 1778 by Paulus Constantijn la Fargue in The Hague and originally appears in the museum's catalogue as an architectural painting rendered in oil on panel, measuring 23 cm by 34 cm. It has been part of the Rijksmuseum's exhibition schedule, featured in displays of Dutch Golden Age cityscapes and architectural works.