Artwork
The Gevangenpoort and the Plaats, The Hague
The Gevangenpoort and the Plaats, The Hague is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Pieter Daniel van der Burgh. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created circa 1850, this oil on canvas presents a modest urban scene of The Hague’s Gevangenpoort and the adjacent square.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1850, this oil on canvas presents a modest urban scene of The Hague’s Gevangenpoort and the adjacent square. The composition centers on a substantial brick edifice with an arched portal and tiled roof, framed by surrounding buildings under a cloudy sky. Figures populate the foreground, strolling or standing, while a dog adds a touch of everyday activity.
Subject & Meaning
The work records a moment of ordinary civic life, emphasizing the rhythm of a public space rather than a specific event. By depicting pedestrians, a canine companion, and the architectural details of the historic gate, the painter conveys the continuity of daily routines within a recognizable urban setting.
Technique & Style
Executed in the naturalistic manner associated with the mid‑nineteenth‑century Barbizon influence, the artist renders textures—brickwork, stone, clothing—with careful observation. Loose yet precise brushwork captures atmospheric cloud cover, while the balanced palette of muted earth tones reinforces the realistic ambience of the cityscape.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced by Dutch landscape specialist Pieter Daniel van der Burgh, who trained under his father Hendrik van der Burgh. Though known primarily for landscapes, he also painted portraits and still lifes. The canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of 19th‑century Dutch art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter Daniel van der Burgh or P. D. van der Burgh (1805–1879) was a Dutch landscape painter. He was a pupil of his father, Hendrik van der Burgh (1769–1858). He is known for landscapes, but also made portraits and still life paintings.
