VENNE, Adriaen Pietersz. van de
(b. 1589, Delft, d. 1662, The Hague)

The Harbour of Middelburg

1625
Oil on panel, 64 x 134 cm
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Van de Venne's picture of the harbour of Middelburg is an extremely lively one: ships with their flags hoisted, mounted horsemen, dogs, children, peasants, more horses, dignified figures in black, country estates - the list is almost endless. Van de Venne depicted all this in a wealth of anecdotic detail, with Middelburg outlined against the sky in the background.