A Scene on the Ice
- Artist: Andries Vermeulen
- Date: about 1800
- Medium: oil on wood
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is "A Scene on the Ice" by Andries Vermeulen. Painted in the Low Countries, it's a wonderful example of a winter landscape from the late eighteenth century. You can see how it's inspired by the work of earlier artists like Hendrick Avercamp and Isack van Ostade, who pioneered this style of brightly lit scenes dominated by horse-drawn sleighs.
Notice how the ice is beginning to crack beneath the feet of the occupants - a subtle hint at the fragility of winter. The overall mood of the painting is light-hearted, with the warm glow of the lamps and the ruddy faces of the people creating a sense of coziness and comfort.
Vermeulen was a landscape specialist who worked primarily in Amsterdam before his death. His style was characterized by a focus on capturing the beauty of everyday life in the Dutch countryside. This painting is a lovely example of that, and it's great to see how he builds on the traditions of earlier artists in the region.
See it in person
A Scene on the Ice 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.
