Landscape with ruin and soldiers – Dirk Langendijk (attrib.) – c. 1790–1805

LANDSCAPE WITH RUIN AND SOLDIERS, CA. 1790–1805

Drawing of a ruin and soldiers in a wooded landscape, attributed to Dirk Langendijk, ca. 1790–1805. Pen and brush in brown and grey ink, with grey and brown wash. Size (paper) 18.3 × 30.3 cm.

Along a woodland path rises an imposing, heavily ruined pleasure palace. Overgrown walls, crumbling towers and a row of tall round-arched windows stand out against the sky. The architecture does not appear to represent a recognisable existing building, but rather to have been composed as an imaginary ruin. To the right, the view opens into the distance across a quiet, hilly landscape.

In front of the ruin, three soldiers meet. Two soldiers on foot carry long guns with fixed bayonets. Facing them, a mounted soldier has come to a halt, possibly an officer.

The combination of soldiers, horses and a dramatic landscape accords well with the work of Dirk Langendijk (1748–1805), who became particularly known for his drawings of soldiers, horsemen, military encampments and military events. Although much of his work relates to historical events of his own time, his compositions were not necessarily topographically accurate. He also used composed or imaginary landscapes as settings for his figures.

The paper bears a ‘Pro Patria’ watermark, showing the Dutch Maiden and the Dutch lion within the so-called Garden of Holland. This motif, with the cap of liberty on a pole as a symbol of Dutch freedom, was widely used in Dutch paper during the eighteenth century.

Prijs: Euro 975,-