Vessels Moored off a Jetty

Jan van de Cappelle is known for his accomplished handling of light and atmospheric effects in his paintings. Usually he depicts ships close to the coast in calm waters, thereby exploiting the reflections of the boats and their sails on the surface of the water for pictorial effect. The compromised condition of the present work somewhat diminishes its impact, and one can only get a hint of the hazy atmosphere the artist intended to evoke through his subtle handling of the colours.