Who painted Seascape with Full Moon?

Seascape with Full Moon was painted by Cornelis Ploos van Amstel in 1779.

Where can I see Seascape with Full Moon?

Seascape with Full Moon is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Seascape with Full Moon?

Seascape with Full Moon is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Seascape with Full Moon?

Museum-quality prints of Seascape with Full Moon are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Seascape with Full Moon

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel , 1779

Seascape with Full Moon is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Cornelis Ploos van Amstel. It dates from 1779 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:upper left in image: LBakhuizen; verso in brown ink: Geoffererd aan Mynen Waarde Vriend ! / den Kunstlievende / de heer Joh: Lublinck / door syn E.d. Dienaar / en vriend / 4 January 1782 ... / PvAmstel J.C.; verso along bottom in brown ink: Gaspar Netscher del 1664 - Ploos van Amstel J.C.F. 1781
Markings: Marked:verso: artist's mark (Eusman 9)

About this work

Overview

Further back, the horizon is punctuated by the faint silhouettes of larger ships, their sails barely catching the moonlight.

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel's 'Seascape with Full Moon,' created in 1779, is an aquatint printed on laid paper that exemplifies the artist's mastery of atmospheric marine subjects during the late 18th century. The composition captures a turbulent night scene where a luminous full moon struggles to penetrate a sky thick with swirling clouds, casting a diffuse, silvery glow over a dark, churning sea. In the foreground, the drama of the elements is focused on two small vessels navigating the rough waters; one boat contains a solitary figure at the helm, while the other carries two passengers, emphasizing human vulnerability against the vastness of nature.

Further back, the horizon is punctuated by the faint silhouettes of larger ships, their sails barely catching the moonlight. Ploos van Amstel utilizes the aquatint technique to achieve subtle gradations of tone, effectively rendering the texture of the water and the density of the storm clouds. This work reflects the Dutch tradition of marine art while showcasing the artist's specific interest in the dramatic interplay of light and shadow, a hallmark of his printmaking career in the final decades of the 1700s.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents a dark, restless sea under a luminous full moon. Two modest vessels dominate the foreground: one steered by a solitary figure, the other bearing two passengers. Distant ships punctuate the horizon, their sails catching faint moonlight. The composition conveys the tension between human vulnerability and the expansive, indifferent ocean.

Technique & Style

Ploos van Amstel employed aquatint, a method that creates broad, watercolor‑like tones through acid‑etched resin grounds. The artist layered scratches and textured washes to model the interplay of light and shadow on water and clouds, producing a gritty surface that emphasizes the sea’s turbulence and the moon’s subdued glow.

History & Provenance

Created in 1779, the print reflects the artist’s interest in atmospheric effects and marine subjects during the Dutch Enlightenment period. While specific ownership records are not provided, the work has been catalogued in scholarly references on Ploos van Amstel’s oeuvre and is held in at least one public collection devoted to 18th‑century prints.