View of a Wide River with a Sailing Boat

Rembrandt van Rijn (attributed to) 1606 - 1669

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Rembrandt. The drawing shows an expanse of water with a grassy riverbank on the left. In the right middle ground is a sailing boat pointing forwards and slightly to the right. Behind this boat on the horizon is the suggestion of buildings, which might be part of a town. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "No. 25 REMBRANDT (b. 1606; d. 1669) VIEW OF A WIDE RIVER WITH A SAILING BOAT Collection of the Duke of Devonshire, Chatsworth (from the Collection of N. A. Flinck). H. de G. [Hofstede de Groot], 848; Lippman, 60. Pen and bistre and bistre wash. 88 x 18.1 cm. (3 1/2 x 7 1/2 in.) The pre-eminent quality of Rembrandt's drawings of open landscape is the command of the delicate shades of tone, by which the elements of distance and aerial perspective are so wonderfully rendered. The present sketch is a perfect example, but even the most excellent reproduction of work of this type is unsatisfying, and must be regarded as a mere reminder of the subject. All Rembrandt's landscape studies seem to fall in his middle period, i.e. within the years 1640-1653, and there is little to fix any more definite date to this drawing. A. M. H."