Amsterdam City View with Houses on the Herengracht and the old Haarlemmersluis by Jan van der Heyden

Amsterdam City View with Houses on the Herengracht and the old Haarlemmersluis c. 1670

abandoned

possibly oil pastel

oil painting

derelict

street graffiti

underpainting

painting painterly

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

Jan van der Heyden’s "Amsterdam City View with Houses on the Herengracht and the old Haarlemmersluis" (c. 1670) is a fine example of Dutch Golden Age cityscapes, capturing the beauty and grandeur of Amsterdam. It is an oil painting on canvas, and depicts a canal in Amsterdam, with the Herengracht canal on the left and the old Haarlemmersluis lock on the right. The painting is characterized by its meticulous detail and atmospheric perspective, and highlights the architectural beauty of Amsterdam. Van der Heyden’s keen observation of the cityscape is evident in the precise rendering of buildings, canals, and trees, showcasing a snapshot of urban life in 17th century Amsterdam. This artwork is housed in the Rijksmuseum and offers a glimpse into the historical context of this city, now a popular tourist destination.

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rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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Van der Heyden captured the activity on and around the water in Amsterdam’s old town centre. With an eye for detail, he painted the old Haarlemmersluis, a lock on the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal. However, the picture does not present a real location: Van der Heyden combined the lock with a row of houses that is actually on a different canal, the Herengracht.