Jan van de Cappelle

Jan van de Cappelle was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age regarded as one of the finest marine artists of his time. Born in Amsterdam around 1626, he was a wealthy businessman who painted mainly for his own pleasure, which freed him to pursue exactly the effects he loved. He specialized in calm seas and estuaries, with ships lying still on glassy water under great, luminous skies.

His paintings are prized for their serene mood and their subtle rendering of light, air, and reflection. He also collected art on a grand scale, owning many drawings by the leading masters. Van de Cappelle's tranquil, silvery marine scenes are now considered high points of Dutch seventeenth century painting.