Jan Josefsz. van Goyen

Though always based on sketches of real locations, Van Goyen's finished drawings and paintings can rarely be considered topographically accurate views. Indeed, in may cases there are few if any pointers to help the viewer identify the scene. 

The relatively distinctive river frontage of Dordrecht can, however, be identified in a number of Van Goyen's works, not least because of the instantly recognisable profile of the ruined tower of Huis te Merwede, seen here in the distance. As indicated by the inscription on the reverse, which Charles Dumas and Robert-Jan te Rijdt have kindly confirmed is in the hand of the great Dutch collector Cornelis Ploos van Amstel, the foreground building on the riverbank, with its pointed spire, is the Riedijkse Poort. No other drawings by Van Goyen of this old city river-gate are known, but it does appear in at least four of the artist's paintings, now in London, Berlin, Basel and St. Petersburg.¹

A copy after the present drawing is in the Huis van Gijn Museum, Dordrecht.

1. H.-U. Beck, Jan van Goyen 1596-1656, vol II, cats. G63, G66, G67 and G124