Haarlem from the Dunes

Johannes Joseph Destree 1827 - 1888

Summary

This extensive bird's eye view from the dunes across fields and woodland is toward the town of Haarlem in the distance to the right, with the sea visible beyond it. A broad, sandy path with a woman and child walking in the direction of the city leads directly into the picture. It runs alongside a tranquil river bordered by mature trees, which appears to bend sharply to the right. The three homes that can be seen in some detail appear to be thriving. In the right foreground, a towering wagon of hay is being unloaded in a field adjacent to a small whitewashed house, with smoke rising from its chimney. Beyond it sits another whitewashed house, while a pale cream gable end and a plume of smoke draw our attention to the furthest house, which sits secluded in a dense copse. A flock of sheep graze on the high dunes to its left. All the fields between this house and the one to its right are full of livestock. The city skyline is dominated by the distinctive outline of St Bavo's Church and a series of church spires, which provide a strong contrast to the uniformly low rural landscape. The high viewpoint, and a huge sky that takes up more than half the canvas, enhance the low-lying nature of the countryside and offer a sense of its vulnerability. Little is known about the life and work of the Belgian landscapist, Johannes Destree, who was born in Laken (Brussels) and died in The Hague. This painting dates from around 1850, when Destree often painted with Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch on the Dekkersduin, a large dune in the immediate environs of The Hague, which in the 19th century offered panoramic views. This panoramic view of Haarlem, also taken from a high dune, recalls Jabob van Ruisdael's View of Haarlem with Bleaching Grounds, c. 1670-75, taken from the Overveen (Mauritshuis, The Hague, inv. no. 155) and the panoramic landscapes of Philips de Koninck (1619-1688).