A Village by a River in Moonlight
- Artist: Aert van der Neer
- Date: about 1645
- 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 the "A Village by a River in Moonlight" painted in the Dutch north around 1645. You'll notice how the artist, Aert van der Neer, has captured the serene atmosphere of a village at night, with the soft glow of the moon casting a peaceful light on the scene.
The painting depicts a typical Low Country village, with a church and windmill standing silhouetted against the gentle reflection of the water. The artist's use of oil on wood creates a rich, luminous effect that draws the viewer in. It's as if you're standing by the riverbank yourself, watching the peaceful scene unfold under the moonlight.
Van der Neer was known for his skill in capturing landscapes at dawn and dusk, but also in moonlit scenes like this one. He lived in Amsterdam during a time when street lighting was still a rare innovation, so it's likely that he drew inspiration from his everyday surroundings to create these beautiful nocturnal vistas.
See it in person
A Village by a River in Moonlight 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.
