Winter scene with thatched cottages and a frozen river spanned by a wooden bridge

Jan van de Cappelle ca. 1624 - 1679

Summary

Predominantly a marine painter, Jan van de Cappelle produced a handful of winter scenes in the 1650s, in which he captured the effects of bitter cold on the familiar landscape. This painting evokes the muffled stillness of a winter's day. Although human activity is sparse and subdued, the variety of activities indicates a balance between work and recreation that is a hallmark of Dutch winter scenes in this period. On the left, a sledge loaded with a barrel waits on the ice while a man puts on his skates, and on the right a thick branch wound with straw appears to have been used to maintain a hole in the ice, perhaps for fishing. In the background, a group of men play 'colf'. The distant bridge alludes to the very different appearance of this river in summer. Despite being considered one of the outstanding marine painters of the 17th century, Van de Cappelle was an amateur painter, whose thriving dye-works, which he inherited from his father and managed with his brother, enabled him to build up an extensive art collection. It included paintings by the marine artist Simon de Vlieger, who greatly influenced his work.

Display Label

Winter Scene around 1650 Jan van de Cappelle about 1623/5 - 1679 Oil on panel This painting evokes mist and cold and the muffled stillness of a winter's day. Human activity is sparse and subdued. Winter scenes by Cappelle are very rare and mostly painted in the early 1650s. He is better know for his seascapes. A man of wealth, position and a patron of the arts, he had his portrait painted by Rembrandt and Hals. Assheton - Bennett bequest 1979.455