Artwork
A Winter Landscape with a Frozen River
A Winter Landscape with a Frozen River is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Jacob Johann Verreyt. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A Winter Landscape with a Frozen River is a watercolour painting created by Jacob Johann Verreyt in 1825. The piece captures a serene winter scene, characterized by a frozen river in the foreground, leafless trees, a small house, and scattered figures engaged in quiet activities.
Subject & Meaning
The painting conveys a sense of gentle winter tranquility. Soft coloration and the depiction of everyday human presence amidst nature's repose suggest an emphasis on the peaceful coexistence of human life and natural elements in a state of dormancy.
Technique & Style
Verreyt employed light, expressive brushstrokes, balancing sketch-like immediacy with detailed rendering. This approach, combined with muted, pale tones, contributes to the work's soft, gentle ambiance, evoking a sense of calm.
History & Provenance
Signed by the artist, the watercolour was once part of Rev. Chauncey Hare Townshend's collection. It was bequeathed to the museum in 1869, where it has remained as part of the permanent collection.
Context
Created during the Romantic era, the painting aligns with the movement's focus on nature's emotional and atmospheric qualities. The emphasis on capturing a mood through landscape reflects Verreyt's adherence to Romantic ideals.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Verreyt painted quiet winter scenes full of frost and slow rivers. In *A Winter Landscape with a Frozen River*, bundles of sticks lie on the ice while bare trees stand still under a pale sky. His work belongs to…
