A Town on a Frozen River
Aert van der Neer (Amsterdam 1603/4 – Amsterdam 1677)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1645 - circa 1650
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
438 x 514 mm (17 1/4 x 20 1/4 in)
Place of origin
Holland
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1246471
Caption
Van der Neer specialised in paintings that capture the nuanced effects of light on the Dutch landscape; whether lit by the setting sun, the moon or, as here, by the diffuse illumination of a cloudy winter’s day. Despite the obvious chill, recreation sounds the key note, with figures skating and playing kolf (similar to golf) on the ice, and fishing though holes neatly cut into its surface.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, A Town on a Frozen River by Aert van der Neer (Amsterdam 1603/4 – Amsterdam 1677), c.1645-1650. A view looking down a river with buildings of a town on either bank, a horseman on a road at the right rides towards a small bridge; on the ice figures are skating and playing golf. Signed: "AV"
Provenance
Humphrey Mildmay (1794 - 1853), 1857; Henry Bingham Mildmay sale, Christie's, 24 June 1893, lot 75, repd., bought by Lesser, from whom acquired by William McEwan for £756 in the same year; The bequest of Margaret (Anderson) McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald - later Dame Margaret - Henry Fulke Greville, DBE (1863-1942) from probate records linked with the donation of the property to the National Trust in 1943. This item found on the record for Polesden Lacey pictures, drawings etc., stored in the cellar, page 171.
Credit line
Polesden Lacey, The McEwan Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
AVN (signed, in monogram)
Makers and roles
Aert van der Neer (Amsterdam 1603/4 – Amsterdam 1677), artist
