A Castle on a Hill by a River
- Artist: Jacob van Ruisdael
- Date: probably 1650-1700
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
"A Castle on a Hill by a River" painted in the Dutch north around 1650. This painting is often attributed to Jacob van Ruisdael, but some art historians believe it may be an early work by one of his followers.
Notice how the sky above the castle seems to have some movement and life to it? That's what gives this painting its atmosphere. The buildings still dominate the scene, but they're surrounded by a lot of muddle - the river is little more than a muddy path and the details on the trees aren't very defined.
Despite all that, there's something about this picture that catches your eye. Maybe it's because it's a bit more subtle and less dramatic than some other works from this period. To get an idea of what I mean, take a look at some of Jacob van Ruisdael's other landscapes. They're really quite different in style.
See it in person
A Castle on a Hill by a River hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
