Landscape with oak tree
Maker
(artist)
1596-1656
1596-1656
Title
Landscape with oak tree
Date of Production
1630 - 1639
Medium
black chalk, carbon grey wash on laid paper, with brown ink framing line
Dimensions
Height: 13 cm
Width: 15.9 cm
Width: 15.9 cm
Accession Number
D.1952.RW.4065
Mode of Acquisition
Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
Not currently on display
Keywords
Label Text
Rendered with rapid, curling strokes, this oak seems to vibrate with energy, an impression underscored by the powerful diagonal thrust of its gnarled trunk. The sheet has been cropped at the upper edge, apparently by the artist himself, bringing the oak closer to the viewer and enhancing its immediacy. Van Goyen laid in the gently rolling landscape in the background in subtle ink washes that throw the solitary tree into higher relief.
Notes
This square format is unique in van Goyen's oeuvre. The degree of finish suggests it was conceived as a completed composition.
Provenance
Helene de Beer, London (1898-1984); purchased from her by Colnaghi (London), 31 January 1949; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), 1 February 1949 (£12); Witt Bequest 1952
Exhibition History
Dutch drawings from the Witt Collection: Part 1: Landscape, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1972 (Jan.-Mar.)
Drawings Gallery Display - Regarding Trees, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/06/2016-25/09/2016
Landscapes in the Making: Dutch & Flemish 16-17th Century Drawings from the Courtauld Gallery, Tobu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, 03/11/2000-24/12/2000; Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka, 02/02/2001-11/03/2001; Koriyama City Museum of Art, Koriyama, 17/03/2001-15/04/2001 ...More
Material Evidence, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/10/1998-24/01/1999
Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 16/10/1991-19/01/1992
The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/09/1986-30/11/1986; The Drawing Center, New York, 08/04/1986-26/07/1986
Master Drawings from the Witt and Courtauld Collections, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, 17/11/1962-22/12/1962
Jan van Goyen, Stedelijk Museum, Leiden and Gemeentemuseum, Arnhem, 04/06/1960-26/09/1960 ...Less
Drawings Gallery Display - Regarding Trees, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/06/2016-25/09/2016
Landscapes in the Making: Dutch & Flemish 16-17th Century Drawings from the Courtauld Gallery, Tobu Museum of Arts, Tokyo, 03/11/2000-24/12/2000; Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art, Shizuoka, 02/02/2001-11/03/2001; Koriyama City Museum of Art, Koriyama, 17/03/2001-15/04/2001 ...More
Material Evidence, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 30/10/1998-24/01/1999
Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 16/10/1991-19/01/1992
The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/09/1986-30/11/1986; The Drawing Center, New York, 08/04/1986-26/07/1986
Master Drawings from the Witt and Courtauld Collections, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, 17/11/1962-22/12/1962
Jan van Goyen, Stedelijk Museum, Leiden and Gemeentemuseum, Arnhem, 04/06/1960-26/09/1960 ...Less
Literature
Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1991
cat. no. 39
pp. 86, 181
p. 87
Farr, Dennis, 100 Masterpieces from the Courtauld Collections, London: Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1987
p. 152
ill. p. 153
The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1986
cat. no. 40
p. 105 ...More
Dutch drawings from the Witt Collection: Part 1: Landscape, Courtauld Gallery, London, January - March 1972
cat. no. 7
Beck, Hans-Ulrich, Jan van Goyen 1596-1656: ein Oeuvre-verzeichnis, vol. I, Amsterdam 1972
no. 787
Anthony Blunt and Philip Troutman, Master Drawings from the Witt and Courtauld Collections, 1962
cat. no. 23 ...Less
cat. no. 39
pp. 86, 181
p. 87
Farr, Dennis, 100 Masterpieces from the Courtauld Collections, London: Courtauld Institute Galleries, 1987
p. 152
ill. p. 153
The Northern Landscape: Flemish, Dutch and British Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1986
cat. no. 40
p. 105 ...More
Dutch drawings from the Witt Collection: Part 1: Landscape, Courtauld Gallery, London, January - March 1972
cat. no. 7
Beck, Hans-Ulrich, Jan van Goyen 1596-1656: ein Oeuvre-verzeichnis, vol. I, Amsterdam 1972
no. 787
Anthony Blunt and Philip Troutman, Master Drawings from the Witt and Courtauld Collections, 1962
cat. no. 23 ...Less
Inscriptions
Watermark: Watermark: none.
Inscription: Verso: left lower edge, graphite: "PJ1306"; lower right, graphite, Colnaghi number: "A. 16107"; lower right corner, graphite: "10".
Collector's mark: none.
Inscription: Verso: left lower edge, graphite: "PJ1306"; lower right, graphite, Colnaghi number: "A. 16107"; lower right corner, graphite: "10".
Collector's mark: none.
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