Who painted River with Town?

River with Town was painted by Cornelis Ploos van Amstel in 1775.

Where can I see River with Town?

River with Town is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is River with Town?

River with Town is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

River with Town

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel , 1775

River with Town is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Cornelis Ploos van Amstel. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower right in image: P.Coopse F; verso along bottom in graphite: P. Coops.del. Ploos van Amstel J.C. fecit .1775.
Markings: Marked:verso: artist's mark (Eusman 5)

About this work

Overview

River with Town is a 1775 print by Dutch artist Cornelis Ploos van Amstel. Executed as an etching combined with roulette and burnishing, the image appears on laid paper and is finished with a hand‑applied wash of color. The composition presents a tranquil riverbank scene, rendered in monochrome ink with subtle tonal variations.

Subject & Meaning

The picture depicts a modest settlement beside a calm river, where several tall‑masted vessels lie at anchor and a solitary rower navigates the foreground. Pointed‑roofed houses line the shore, while a hazy sky softens the horizon, suggesting a moment of quiet repose rather than bustling activity.

Technique & Style

Ploos van Amstel employed traditional etching methods, incising lines into a copper plate before printing with black ink. Roulette and burnishing add texture, while a delicate wash of color applied by hand introduces a gentle, dreamlike atmosphere. The lightly filled sails and muted tonal range emphasize stillness and the fleeting quality of light.

History & Provenance

Created in the late eighteenth century, the print reflects the artist’s interest in topographical subjects and the Dutch tradition of riverine landscapes. It was likely produced for a market of collectors interested in picturesque scenes of everyday life, though specific ownership records for this particular impression are not documented.