River Landscape by Moonlight
about 1665/70 | Aert van der Neer
Emerging from the clouds, the full moon floods the dark river landscape with cool light, giving a scene – that would be rather pedestrian by day – an “unreal” character. The width and depth of the scene are filled with the diverse activities of nocturnal fishing. Tone in tone coloration makes visible even the finest details. With subtle atmospheric works like this one, van der Neer reveals himself as the consummator and principal master of the Dutch nocturnal painting.
Emerging from the clouds, the full moon floods the dark river landscape with cool light, giving a scene – that would be rather pedestrian by day – an “unreal” character. The width and depth of the scene are filled with the diverse activities of nocturnal fishing. Tone in tone coloration makes visible even the finest details. With subtle atmospheric works like this one, van der Neer reveals himself as the consummator and principal master of the Dutch nocturnal painting.
Artist:
Aert van der Neer (1603/1604 - 1677 Amsterdam) DNB
Time:
about 1665/70
Object Name
Painting
Culture
Dutch
Material/technology:
Canvas
Dimensions:
66,5 cm × 86,5 cm
Framed: 90,3 cm × 108,5 cm × 8,5 cm
Signed
Inscribed on the bottom right and at the nets (twice): AVDN
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Gemäldegalerie
Invs.
Gemäldegalerie, 6487
Provenance
1861 Coll. L. Viardot, Paris; 1924 purchase from the gallery St. Lucas, Vienna;