Scene on the shore at Scheveningen (?)

Isack van Ostade 1621 - 1649

Summary

In the 1600s, Scheveningen, which is on the North Sea near The Hague, was a busy fishing village. It was famed for its stocks of herring, one of the Netherlands' largest exports. Scheveningen was also known for its distinctive 15th century church spire and tower. Van Ostade evokes a lively, noisy shoreline with fishermen unloading the morning's catch to be transported over the dunes and into market. This type of beach scene was popular at the time, reminding the Dutch people of their close relationship with the sea. Isack van Ostade, who mainly painted peasants and landscapes, trained in Haarlem with his brother Adriaen. He was active only for around a decade. This picture probably dates from the 1640s, during his brief period of maturity, before his tragically early death in 1649. This type of shore scene, combining seascape, landscape and figures on a beach, was first painted by Jan van Goyen in the 1630s.

Display Label

Scene on the Shore at Scheveningen  1640s

Isack van Ostade  1621-49

Oil on panel

Scheveningen was a busy fishing village, located on the North Sea near The Hague. It was famed for its fisheries, particularly its stocks of herring, one of the Netherlands’ largest exports. Scheveningen was also known for its distinctive 15^th century church spire and tower.

Van Ostade evokes a lively, noisy shoreline with fishermen unloading the morning’s catch to be transported over the dunes and into market. This type of beach scene was popular at the time as it connected the Dutch people directly with the sea.

Van Ostade trained in Haarlem with his brother Adriaen, and was mainly a painter of peasants and landscapes.

From the collection of James Hatton, the gift of his niece Mrs Elizabeth Hatton Wood  1908.20