Skating on the Frozen Amstel River

Adam van Breen - Skating on the Frozen Amstel River [1611]... more

by Celestial Images

Title

Skating on the Frozen Amstel River

Artist

Celestial Images

Medium

Painting - Oil On Canvas, Drawing, Digital Art Or Mixed Media Art

Description

Adam van Breen - Skating on the Frozen Amstel River [1611]

Van Breen depicted Dutch citizens enjoying a bright wintery day, capturing the excitement when the ice was finally strong enough to welcome skaters. In the foreground are elegant figures dressed in vibrantly coloured clothes preparing to skate, while others happily glide into the distance, along the smooth surface of the frozen river. Characteristic of these paintings are the many anecdotes that are illustrated, for example a young boy who propels himself on his prikslee (a small push-sled); an ice boat under full sail; and an orphan from the Burgerweeshuis (City Orphanage) of Amsterdam, recognisable by his half-red, half-black costume, carrying a kolf-stick over his shoulder. Occasionally accidents occur, as in the middle distance where two figures are sprawled on the ice.

van Breen, -Adam Skating on the Frozen Amstel River [1611

This particular painting is unusual in the geographical accuracy of the buildings. Instead of an imaginary city, the artist staged the figures against the profile of Amsterdam. The view is along the river Amstel, just south of that city. The church spires punctuating the city's profile are those of the Nieuwe Kerk, the Oude Kerk, and the nearest, the Zuiderkerk. The Zuiderkerk was built between 1603 and 1611, and this painting is the first depiction of this newly constructed Protestant church.



[National Gallery of Art, Washington - Oil on panel, 43 x 65 cm

Uploaded

December 24th, 2015