Terms and conditions of use
A Mediterranean port scene
1652
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
66.0 × 102.0 cm
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1977
© Public Domain
Gallery location
Rembrandt Cabinet
Level 2, NGV International
About this work
Trained by the Utrecht painter Abraham Bloemaert, Jan Baptist Weenix went to Rome in 1643, where he joined a lively society of Dutch and Flemish painters named the Bentvueghels (Birds of a Feather). Despite a reputation for buffoonery, the Northern painters conveyed an appreciation of adopted, classical setting in sophisticated, if sometimes irreverent, interpretations of the Italian landscape. Weenix returned to Utrecht in 1649 where he is credited with introducing the Italian harbour motif into Dutch painting. In this scene, the far-flung sources of Holland’s wealth are evoked through the exotic mix of trade, travel and industry taking place at a portside tavern.
Artwork Details
Inscription
inscribed in grey paint c.: Gio Batta Weenix f. 1652
Accession Number
E1-1977
Department
International Painting
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Subjects (general)
Cityscapes Human Figures Marines and Seascapes
Subjects (specific)
barrels (containers) coopers ports (settlements) taverns travellers (people by activity)