On the Amstel near Amsterdam, at the Omval

Rembrandt van Rijn (attributed to) 1606 - 1669

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Rembrandt. The drawing shows a stretch of river in the foreground, with several buildings on the bank in the distance. Amongst these are some windmills. A sailboat is on the water to the right of the sheet. The boat and buildings have blurry reflections in the water, and the drawing has a grey wash which lends a cloudy, drizzly feel to it. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "21. REMBRANDT (b. 1606; d. 1669) ON THE AMSTEL NEAR AMSTERDAM, AT THE OMVAL Collection of the Duke of Devonshire, K.G., Chatsworth. From the Flinck Collection. Pen and ink and grey wash. 10.8 x 19.7 cm. (4 1/4 x 7 3/4 in.). The place has been identified by Mr. Frits Lugt as at the Omval, opposite the Ringvaart of the Diemermeer. The drawing must have been made from the left bank of the Amstel facing the small canal skirting the Diemermeer on the South. 'De Omval' appears to have denoted the tongue of land with its houses between the Amstel and this canal, though the actual origin of the name was no doubt the bend in the river at this point. One of Rembrandt's etchings, called The Omval, which is dated 1645, gives a view of the same place, reversed on the plate (B. 209, H. 210). The drawing probably belongs to the same period. A. M. H. [Lippmann, 74; Hofstede de Groot, 840; Lugt, Mit Rembrandt in Amsterdam, Berlin, 1920, Abb. 55.]"