JAN VAN GOYEN (LEIDEN 1596-1656 THE HAGUE)

Jan van Goyen began to depict estuary scenes and canals in the second half of the 1620s, around the time he abandoned the style of his master, Esaias van de Velde, in favour of a more tonal approach with an almost monochrome palette that had gained currency in the period. Van Goyen relished the depiction of the broad, open landscape of Holland, which is dominated by water and sky. Like many of these works, the present composition employs a low horizon line and a deep recession into depth, which is defined through carefully chosen areas of light and dark.

For a note on the provenance, see lot 126.