Note: Your tags will not be submitted until you login Create account?
Exit

ARTWORKS

An Estuary with Fishing Boats and Two Frigates

Jan van Goyen (1596–1656)

The National Gallery, London

An Estuary with Fishing Boats and Two Frigates

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

What things, ideas or objects can you see in this artwork?

i

Things are objects or ideas portrayed in the artwork. For example: apple, dog, smile, celebration, etc.

What do we mean by ‘things’?
Can you find what you’re tagging from this list? If so, please select it.
There are records to display, please narrow your criteria
Can’t find a matching tag? Add it here:
Add as many tags as you want Need help?

Things you’ve added

You can click a tag below to remove it.

None yet.

Things added by others

None yet.

Review approved things

The ‘things’ below have been verified, but you can still challenge and report them if you think they are incorrect or inappropriate.

Boat
Cloud
Estuary
Fisherman
Fishing
Fishing Boat
Frigate
Mast
Sail
Sailing
Sea
Ship
Sky

Can you name any people depicted in this artwork?

i

People are the names of figures depicted in the artwork. For example: Queen Victoria, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, etc.

What do we mean by ‘people’?
Can you find what you’re tagging from this list? If so, please select it.
There are records to display, please narrow your criteria
Can’t find a matching tag? Add it here:
Add as many tags as you want Need help?

People you’ve added

You can click a tag below to remove it.

None yet.

People added by others

None yet.

Can you name any places depicted in this artwork?

i

Places are geographical locations and venues depicted in the artwork. For example: Glasgow, London Bridge, Belgium, etc.

What do we mean by ‘places’?
Can you find what you’re tagging from this list? If so, please select it.
There are records to display, please narrow your criteria
Can’t find a matching tag? Add it here:
Add as many tags as you want Need help?

Places you’ve added

You can click a tag below to remove it.

None yet.

Places added by others

None yet.

Can you name any events depicted in this artwork?

i

Events are occasions or historical moments shown in the artwork. For Example: WW1, Diamond Jubilee, Birthday Party, Battle of Hastings, etc.

What do we mean by ‘events’?
Can you find what you’re tagging from this list? If so, please select it.
There are records to display, please narrow your criteria
Can’t find a matching tag? Add it here:
Add as many tags as you want Need help?

Events you’ve added

You can click a tag below to remove it.

None yet.

Events added by others

None yet.

How you can use this image

This image can be used for non-commercial research or private study purposes, and other UK exceptions to copyright permitted to users based in the United Kingdom under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended and revised. Any other type of use will need to be cleared with the rights holder(s).

Review the copyright credit lines that are located underneath the image, as these indicate who manages the copyright (©) within the artwork, and the photographic rights within the image.

The collection that owns the artwork may have more information on their own website about permitted uses and image licensing options.

Review our guidance pages which explain how you can reuse images, how to credit an image and how to find images in the public domain or with a Creative Commons licence available.

Buy a print or image licence

You can purchase this reproduction

If you have any products in your basket we recommend that you complete your purchase from Art UK before you leave our site to avoid losing your purchases.

Order a print

Notes

Add or edit a note on this artwork that only you can see. You can find notes again by going to the ‘Notes’ section of your account.

Huge clouds float across a wide sky, seeming to dwarf everything below – even the two frigates heading way out to sea, sails raised, tall and majestic. Frigates were light warships that protected the giant merchant vessels that were the lifeblood of the new Dutch Republic, reaching out across the world and bringing wealth to the small but powerful nation. Van Goyen has placed them almost centrally, with a clear sweep of water between them and us – it’s as if everything has moved aside to allow them freedom of the waterways.

We don’t know if the painting represents a specific place. It’s probably an amalgamation of small scenes from van Goyen’s many drawings. He worked extremely fast, but speed didn’t prevent him from portraying a poetic vision of the Dutch landscape that holds the gaze and appeals to the imagination.

The National Gallery, London

London

Read more on The National Gallery, London
Title

An Estuary with Fishing Boats and Two Frigates

Date

about 1650-6

Medium

Oil on oak

Measurements

H 49.5 x W 69.1 cm

Accession number

NG6423

Acquisition method

Bequeathed by Sir John Heathcoat-Amory, Bt, 1972; entered the Collection in 1973

Work type

Painting

Tags

See a tag that’s incorrect or offensive? Challenge it and notify Art UK.

Help improve Art UK. Tag artworks and verify existing tags by joining the Tagger community.

Learn more Tag this

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

This venue is open to the public. Not all artworks are on display. If you want to see a particular artwork, please contact the venue.
View venue

Artist or maker

Jan van Goyen

1596–1656

View profile
  • Landscape with a Stream
    Landscape with a Stream Victoria and Albert Museum
  • Cottages and Fishermen by a River
    Cottages and Fishermen by a River Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
  • River Scene with an Inn
    River Scene with an Inn Victoria and Albert Museum
  • A Castle by a River
    A Castle by a River Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
  • View of Brussels
    View of Brussels Chequers Court
  • Skating Scene before the Noordenpoort, Hoorn
    Skating Scene before the Noordenpoort, Hoorn Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
  • View of Dordrecht with the Grote Kerk across the Maas
    View of Dordrecht with the Grote Kerk across the Maas Walker Art Gallery
  • 66 more

Topics