Purchase a reproduction of The Vijverberg, The Hague, in Winter, with Prince Maurits and his Retinue in the Foreground, Adam van Breen, 1618

Q: Is The Vijverberg, The Hague, in Winter, with Prince Maurits and his Retinue in the Foreground, Adam van Breen, 1618 under copyright?

No, this artwork is in the public domain.

Artwork Description

Prince Maurits is seen with his retinue and bodyguards against the backdrop of skaters on the frozen Hofvijver in The Hague. On the left are the buildings lining the lake, in the centre the houses on the Buitenhof and the Plaats with the tower of the Sint-Jacobskerk above them, and on the right Lange Vijverberg and a small part of the St Sebastian Civic Guard Hall.2 On the civic guard parade ground in the centre (later Korte Vijverberg) is a procession of noblemen headed by Prince Maurits, with Prince Frederik Hendrik beside him on the right. Ahead of them are the bodyguards armed with halberds. The sumptuously attired lady on the left wearing a huke, a Flemish-style long hooded cloak topped with a sort of finial, and with her hands in a muff, may be Maurits’s mistress, Margaretha van Mechelen.3 The inclusion of portrait groups of contemporary dignitaries in a landscape is first found in a number of paintings by Adriaen van de Venne (among them SK-A-447, SK-A-676 and SK-A-1775). The painting discussed here is the first in a series of scenes in which Maurits, his half-brother Frederik Hendrik and his courtiers are portrayed on foot or on horseback near the Stadholder’s Court, the Hofvijver and the Binnenhof. A slightly later example, datable c. 1622-23, is Prince Maurits Accompanied by Prince Frederik Hendrik, Frederick V of Bohemia and his Wife Elizabeth Stuart, and Others, on the Buitenhof, The Hague (SK-A-452), which is attributed to Pauwels van Hillegaert.4 It has also been suggested that the figures in the summer scene, View of the Old Hof in The Hague, which is dated 1619 and is now in a private collection, are Prince Maurits and his courtiers.5 There are two other versions of this painting, of which the canvas in the Haags Historisch Museum in The Hague may have been executed by Van Breen in the same period as this one.6 The Hague version, which differs somewhat in the foreground details and the background ice scene, is a more colourful portrayal of the event than the Rijksmuseum painting, which has a thick, discoloured layer of varnish that makes it less attractive. In addition to the fairly loose manner seen in other works by Van Breen, there are the figures’ prominent broad, dark shadows on the ice in the foreground. The date 1618 on the painting stands in contradiction to the dendrochronology results, which indicate that 1620 is the earliest possible date of execution.7 The question arises, therefore, whether the Rijksmuseum painting is Van Breen’s first version of the subject or a later repetition. It is likely that Adam van Breen came into contact with Prince Maurits in 1617 while preparing his military drill manual Die Nassausche Wapenhandelinge, which Van Breen published in The Hague in 1618. It is conceivable that the first version of this painting was commissioned from him in connection with the book, and because of Maurits’s 50th birthday in 1617. Jan Piet Filedt Kok, 2007 See Bibliography and Rijksmuseum painting catalogues See Key to abbreviations and Acknowledgements This entry was published in J. Bikker (ed.), Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, I: Artists Born between 1570 and 1600, coll. cat. Amsterdam 2007, no. 32.

Related Artworks

Artist Biography

early life and artistic pursuits

adam van breen, a prominent figure in the dutch golden age, was born in amsterdam in 1585. his life, though not extensively documented, is marked by his specialization in winter landscapes, which has left an indelible mark on the art world.

artistic affiliations and geographic influences

in 1612, van breen became a member of the hague guild of st. luke, a significant artistic community. besides his work in the hague, he is known to have worked in amsterdam and oslo, reflecting the geographic breadth of his influence.

notable works and style

- skating on the frozen amstel river (oil on panel, 56 x 79 cm): this painting encapsulates van breen's mastery of capturing the essence of winter landscapes, with hundreds of figures enjoying ice skating in a vibrant, detailed scene. - winter landscape with skaters (c. 1615 - c. 1620, oil on panel, 55 x 112 cm): this work showcases van breen's ability to balance composition and figures, reflecting his unique style influenced by hendrick and barendt avercamp.

legacy and later life

van breen's later years saw him settle in christiania (now oslo), where he executed several handsome portraits during his norwegian period. his influence on the art world is undeniable, with his works being a testament to the dutch golden age's artistic prowess.

key artistic contributions: van breen's detailed, realistic winter landscapes and his influence on the development of the dutch golden age art movement.
notable museums featuring his work: the museum huis ten bosch in the hague, netherlands, among others.

further exploration at ArtsDot.com

- view adam van breen's "skating on the frozen amstel river" - explore adam van breen's profile and artworks - wikipedia: adam van breen

adam van breen

1585 - 1642 , Netherlands

Quick Facts

Artistic Movement Or Style: Early Stuart, Illustration
Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Hendrick Avercamp']
Artists Who Influenced This Artist: ['Sir Nathaniel Bacon']
Date Of Birth: c. 1539
Date Of Death: c. 1593
Full Name: John White
Nationality: English
Notable Artworks:
- Cookmaid with Still Life
- Roanoke Island Sketches
Place Of Birth: England

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The Vijverberg, The Hague, in Winter, with Prince Maurits and his Retinue in the Foreground, Adam van Breen, 1618

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