A Storm off the Dutch Coast

Ruisdael, Jacob Isaacksz. van 1628 - 1682

Summary

Ruisdael is most famous for his landscapes, but he also painted around twenty seascapes, all of which date from after 1660, late in his career. The painting shows Ruisdael's characteristic mood of melancholy grandeur. In 1718, the Dutch painter and writer Arnold Houbraken was so impressed by the realism of Ruisdael's seascapes that he wrote: 'He could paint the sea, a tempestuous sea with violent waves lashing against rocks and dunes. In this type of painting he ranked among the very best'. The sound of the crashing waves and howling wind is almost audible here and the white caps of the waves stand out from the grey, looming clouds in the vast sky. Ruisdael's boats and figures are not detailed and are included to give a sense of scale and to enhance the drama. The waves become more ferocious when compared with the tiny figures on the jetty.

Display Label

A Storm off the Dutch Coast  about 1665-70

Jacob van Ruisdael  1628-82

Oil on canvas

Ruisdael is most famous for his landscapes, but he also painted around 20 seascapes. In 1718, the Dutch painter and writer Arnold Houbraken was so impressed by the realism of Ruisdael’s seascapes that he wrote ‘He could paint the sea, a tempestuous sea with violent waves lashing against rocks and dunes. In this type of painting he ranked among the very best’.

The sound of the crashing waves and howling wind is almost audible here and the white caps of the waves stand out from the grey, looming clouds in the vast sky.

Ruisdael’s boats and figures are not detailed and are included to give a sense of scale and to enhance the drama. The waves become more ferocious when compared against the tiny figures on the jetty.

Presented by The Art Fund from the E E Cook collection  1955.124