Castle by a River
The Met
Artist: Jan van Goyen(Dutch, Leiden 1596–1656 The Hague)
Date: 1647
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on wood
Dimensions: 26 x 38 1/4 in. (66 x 97.2 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Edith Neuman de Végvár, in honor of her husband, Charles Neuman de Végvár, 1964
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A cloudy landscape with a large fortified building, water, and fishermen in boats
Detailed Description
The painting depicts a wide landscape dominated by a large body of water and a fortified structure under a cloudy sky. The upper half of the canvas is filled with heavy, dark grey and brown clouds, with some lighter, yellowish-grey areas peeking through, suggesting a muted light source. The lower half is a calm, reflective body of water, appearing dark brown-green, mirroring the tones of the sky and the distant land. On the right side, a substantial fortified complex rises from the water's edge. A tall, multi-storied tower with a dark, pointed roof stands prominently in the center-right, its weathered stone or brick facade showing various shades of brown and grey. Below and to its right, a series of thick stone walls and smaller buildings extend along the water, forming a defensive embankment. These walls feature arched openings at water level and smaller turrets with conical roofs. The stone surfaces are textured, with hints of green and brown vegetation. In the far distance on the left, a low, flat landmass with a cluster of trees and a small, dark structure, possibly a windmill, is visible under a slightly brighter patch of sky. Several small boats are scattered across the water. In the foreground, slightly to the left of center, two men in a dark boat are actively pulling in a fishing net, which stretches across the water. One man wears a reddish-brown top, the other a darker garment. Further back on the left, another small boat with one or two figures is visible. Near the base of the fortified wall on the right, several more small boats are present, some with figures, and some appear to be entering or exiting the arched openings in the wall.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
