A River View
- Artist: Abraham Storck
- Date: about 1690-1700
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A River View" by Abraham Storck, painted in the Dutch north. Created around 1690-1700, it's a beautiful example of a Dutch riverscape from the 17th century. The painting shows an idealised version of life on a Dutch river, with detailed and accurate depictions of the vessels.
Look at how the rising sun is hidden behind the sails of the man-of-war coming in from the sea. And notice how the grey dawn light lifts as the morning clouds drift away almost imperceptibly on a faint breeze. The soft glow of the sky seems more Mediterranean than Northern European, which adds to the romantic atmosphere.
The vessels are accurately painted, but the rest of the landscape around the banks of the river is imaginary. You'll see people fishing and chatting on the riverbanks, while men work on the spit of land in the middle of the river. The large church in the background could be Rotterdam Cathedral, but Storck wasn't interested in topographical accuracy.
He wanted to present an atmosphere, a feeling of excitement and wonder at new discoveries. This painting would have appealed to a collector who shared Storck's knowledge of ships and his romantic vision of the sea. It's oil on canvas, a medium that suits this type of landscape perfectly.
See it in person
A River View 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.
