View of Dordrecht with the Grote Kirk Across the Maas

Van Goyen frequently painted the distinctive view of the Dutch town of Dordrecht. The bold bulk of its main church, the Groote Kerk, with its unfinished spire, dominates the view across junction of the busy river Maas. He painted it over 20 times from varying distances and in different weather conditions. Here blustery winds push a ferry-boat’s sails and whip up the choppy waves which rock the fishermen’s boat. The overall brown tonality is freshened by a pale blue sky, glimpsed through the scudding clouds, and enlivened by the bright red coat of a rowing-boat passenger. Despite being one of Holland’s most prolific landscape artists van Goyen died in debt, having lost a lot of money speculating on the price of tulips in 1637.