Panoramic View of Dordrecht and the River Maas

about 1645–1652

Medium

Brush and dark brown ink with grey wash and ochre watercolor heightened with gum arabic over black chalk, on laid paper

Dimensions

15.9 × 50.5 cm

Status

In Museum Collection

Collect24 Art ID

C24-205857

This drawing is a masterful portrayal of a distant cityscape confined by an endless sky and wide body of water. It shows Cuyp’s native city of Dordrecht along the River Maas in topographical detail, with major and minor buildings identifiable. It begins on the left with the windmills outside the North Dike Harbor, moving right to the Riedijkse Harbor and Riedijkse Gate, the Melkpoortje (little Milk Gate) within the wall of the quay, to the Groothoofdspoort, then to the northern entrance to the New Harbor. Close examination of the right edge of the sheet suggests that this drawing was cut down and originally may have included Dordrecht’s largest church, the so-called Grote Kerk with its large, square tower. The tuffs of vegetation in the foreground together with the sparing application of gum arabic to saturate the dark brown ink enhances the vastness of this panorama, which Cuyp seemingly sketched in black chalk from an embankment or boat before adding the colored washes back in the studio. The distant cityscape filled with intricate details and the broad stretch of water with delicate reflections lend this drawing an extraordinary richness. Although made as a highly finished work…