Artwork
Horsepond on a river
Horsepond on a river is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Philips Wouwerman. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Horsepond on a river is executed in oil paint applied to a panel support. Created in 1650, the work measures 46 cm in height and 64 cm in width. As a genre scene, the painting depicts a specific moment of daily life, characteristic of the artist's focus on genre art. The piece was produced in Haarlem.
History & Provenance
The painting Horsepond on a river was created by Philips Wouwerman in 1650. Executed in oil paint on panel, the work originated in Haarlem. It is part of the collection formed by Adriaan van der Hoop, who owned the piece before it entered the holdings of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The artwork remains within the Rijksmuseum, specifically associated with the Amsterdam Museum collection.
Context
Philips Wouwerman painted Horsepond on a river in 1650, a work now held in Dutch collections such as the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Museum, including the Adriaan van der Hoop collection, and exemplifies Haarlem school genre painting on panel. Scholarship situates the piece within Wouwerman's mature output of river and landscape scenes, noting its technical execution in oil on panel with dimensions of 64 by 46 centimeters. The painting's reception reflects 19th-century interest in Dutch genre works, though detailed critical commentary on this specific canvas remains sparse in surviving records.
Its inclusion in major museum inventories and exhibitions underscores its recognized significance within the artist's oeuvre and Dutch Golden Age art historical narratives.
Overview
Created circa 1650 by the Dutch artist Philips Wouwerman, this oil painting portrays a tranquil riverside where horses pause to drink. The composition gathers figures, animals, and a modest stone tower under a softly clouded sky, offering a snapshot of everyday activity along the water’s edge.
Subject & Meaning
The scene centers on a group of horses being led to the river, accompanied by riders and onlookers in varied attire, including several in vivid red coats. Small boats drift nearby, while a cluster of people gathers on the shore, suggesting a communal pause in travel or work.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Philips Wouwerman (also Wouwermans) (24 May 1619 (baptized) – 19 May 1668) was a Dutch painter of hunting, landscape and battle scenes. He became prolific during the Dutch Golden Age and joined the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke.
