VROOM, Hendrick Cornelisz.
(b. 1566, Haarlem, d. 1640, Haarlem)

View of Delft from the Southwest

1615
Oil on canvas, 71 x 162 cm
Gemeente Musea, Delft

In this heraldic composition Vroom presents a wide-angle view of Delft from west-southwest. The massive Sint Jorispoort commands the centre of the view; the three most prominent towers are those of, from left to right, the Oude Kerk, the Stadhuis, and the Nieuwe Kerk. This canvas, signed and dated lower centre, on wall of inn, is one of the earliest known cityscape paintings. Earlier cityviews are known almost exclusively from engravings and maps.