Much less anecdotal than the winter scenes by Hendrick Avercamp (see 'A Winter Scene with Skaters near a Castle' & 'A Scene on the Ice near a Town'), this painting conveys instead the atmosphere of a cold winter day on a frozen waterway. The atmospheric effect is emphasised by the pale sunlight & restrained colours, & by the broad & rapid execution of the details. The village on the horizon has not been identified, & the scene may not be intended as a depiction of a particular site. Van Goyen painted more than 100 such winter landscapes. ...

Create your own bespoke print of Hendrick Avercamp’s A Scene on the Ice near a Town from our collection. About this painting A Scene on the Ice near a Town, about 1615 © The National Gallery, London This painting joined our collection in 1896 With our custom print service, you can order your own fully customised reproduction from the National Gallery Collection & exhibitions. Choose your own size, print material & frames & have your masterpiece delivered straight to your door. ...

Many of van Goyen's paintings are of scenes in & around Dordrecht. On the right of this painting is the Riedijk water-gate, which stood at the eastern end of Dordrecht: it was built 1590 & demolished in about 1830. In the distance on the far left, across the frozen Merwede river, are the ruins of Merwede Castle, which was built in the 13th century & ruined in the early 15th century. The ruins of the castle also appear in ' Peasants & Cattle by the River Merwede' by Aelbert Cuyp, which is also in the National Gallery's Collection. This picture is unusual for van Goyen because, although he is famous for landscapes of rivers & estuarys, he painted few ice scenes. This ice scene is in the tradition established by Avercamp & is notable for the liveliness of the figures enjoying the pleasures of the ice. The scene is dominated by the wide expanse of grey sky & the gate rising over the figures on the right. ...

Vermeulen's landscapes are based upon 17th-century precedents. This type of composition is based on the work of Isack van Ostade, for example his ' Winter Scene' in the National Gallery's Collection. A similar work by the artist (Frankfurt, Städelsches Kunstinstitut) is signed & dated 1800. ...

This painting is recorded as having been made as one of a pair for the Comte de Luc. The scene is largely fanciful but



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The coat of arms on the wall at the right may stand for Marseilles or Toulon. The scenery may be based on that of Toulon. The picture has been ascribed to Charles-François de Lacroix, an artist who closely imitated Claude-Joseph Vernet. ...

The signature at the lower left is probably false; the painting is no longer considered to be by Rembrandt. There are a number of weaknesses in the drawing, & the application of paint does not always successfully describe the intended form. This suggests it is the work of a pupil rather than Rembrandt himself. On stylistic grounds it may perhaps date from the late 17th century or even the early 18th century. ...

The picture evolved in two main stages: initially the main central scene was worked on & then the support was enlarged all round. The central part of the composition was altered; X-radiographs reveal a group of cottages which was subsequently painted ou ...

The painting is a notable example of a calm seascape conveying an unusual degree of drama. Van de Cappelle was able to achieve to great effect in paint the shimmering water & its reflections. He invents patterns of clouds to complement the placing of the ships, & creates a mood of drama here, with the dark mass of clouds at the top of the painting contrasted with the bright water below. The three main vessels represented are a row barge, to the right, with a prominent dutch ensign, a ferry to the left, & a yacht beyond the barge with its sails unfurled. Its guns are firing a salute & a trumpeter on board is sounding his trumpet. The painting probably represents the welcoming of an important personage aboard a Dutch government yacht. ...

Create your own bespoke print of Claude-Joseph Vernet’s A Shipwreck in Stormy Seas (' Tempête') from our collection. About this painting A Shipwreck in Stormy Seas (' Tempête'), 1773 © The National Gallery, London This painting joined our collection in 2004 With our custom print service, you can order your own fully customised reproduction from the National Gallery Collection & exhibitions. Choose your own size, print material & frames & have your masterpiece delivered straight to your door. ...