Evening Gun: Seascape

Aernout Smit (1641 - 1710)

Oil on panel

Share this:

License this image

Start Zooming
  • About the work
    Location
    Country: Sweden
    City: Stockholm
    Place: British Embassy

    In this peaceful, moonlit scene an impressive Dutch naval ship fires a signal as fishermen on a smaller boat prepare to return home at the end of the day.

    This work was purchased for the Government Art Collection in 1963 from the collection of Sir Bruce Ingram, collector of art and former managing editor of the ‘Illustrated London News’.

  • About the artist
    Aernout Smit was born in Amsterdam and studied under artist Theunisz Jan Blankerhoff. He later painted in an attic room on the Singel canal, probably under the employment of art dealer Lauren Cornelisz de Coninck, who rented the room. Another dealer, Hendrick Meyeringh, owned several works by him and may also have been a patron. Smit’s wife, Maritie Jans Weema, worked for a grocer in Amsterdam. On the grocer’s retirement, Smit purchased the shop, which Maritie managed. In 1687 Smit reported having copied a work by artist Ludolf Backhuysen and he is generally considered to have been a follower of Backhuysen. Smit became a member of the Guild of St Luke in Amsterdam. He died aged c.70 and is thought to have been buried at the Leiden cemetery.
  • Explore
    Places
    Subjects
    genre, seascape/coastal scene, evening, smoke, beach, man, ensign (ship), cannon, ship
    Materials & Techniques
    panel, oil
  • Details
    Artist
    Aernout Smit (1641 - 1710)
    Title
    Evening Gun: Seascape
    Date
    Medium
    Oil on panel
    Dimensions
    height: 55.00 cm, width: 70.50 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Sir Bruce Ingram, 1963
    GAC number
    1464