Artwork
Calm Sea
Calm Sea is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Simon de Vlieger. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a representative piece of Dutch marine art from the mid-seventeenth century, the composition features a boat situated within a tranquil seascape.
Executed in 1640, Simon de Vlieger's Calm Sea is a marine painting created using oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 37.5 cm in height and 44.5 cm in width. As a representative piece of Dutch marine art from the mid-seventeenth century, the composition features a boat situated within a tranquil seascape.
The selection of oil on panel was a standard medium for artists of this period, allowing for the detailed rendering of atmospheric effects and water textures characteristic of the genre. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The painting Calm Sea was created in 1640 by the Dutch artist Simon de Vlieger. Executed in oil paint on a panel support, the work measures 37.5 by 44.5 centimeters and depicts a marine scene featuring a boat. While the specific circumstances of its original commission and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its current location are not recorded in the available documentation, the work is presently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The piece is classified within the genre of marine art, consistent with de Vlieger's specialized output during this period.
Simon de Vlieger's 1640 oil-on-panel painting, Calm Sea, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work measures 37.5 cm in height and 44.5 cm in width. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records, the Metropolitan Museum of Art lists the piece within its marine art holdings.
The painting depicts a boat and maritime scenes, consistent with the artist's genre specialization. No exhibition history or loan records are documented in the provided sources, limiting the historical account to its current institutional location and physical attributes.
Overview
Simon de Vlieger's painting, Calm Sea, completed in 1640, is an oil on canvas work from the Dutch Golden Age. It presents a serene maritime scene, characteristic of the artist's primary focus on seascapes. The artwork is housed within the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering a quiet contemplation of the sea.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a tranquil seascape under a sky composed of soft white and gray clouds. Gentle waves ripple across the calm water, where a large boat with a distinctive yellow sail dominates the foreground. Smaller vessels are visible in the distance, contributing to the sense of depth and the overall peaceful, unhurried atmosphere that pervades the composition.
Context
Simon de Vlieger was a prominent Dutch painter during the 17th century, best known for his marine art, though his repertoire also included beach scenes, landscapes, and genre paintings. His artistic versatility extended to designing tapestries, stained glass, and etchings. Calm Sea exemplifies his contribution to the rich tradition of maritime painting within the Dutch Golden Age.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Simon de Vlieger (c. 1601 – buried 13 March 1653) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman and designer of tapestries, etchings, stained glass windows. While he is mainly known for his marine paintings, he also painted beach…
