top of page

Dirk Langendijk
(Rotterdam 1748-1805)

A military convoy driving

signed and dated ‘Dirk Langendijk/ inv. et delin 1796’ (lower left corner)
graphite, pen and brown ink, grey wash, watermark Pieter de Vries, pen and brown ink framing lines
13.4 x 19.9 cm

Provenance:
The Carroll Galleries, Toronto.
Anonymous sale; Sotheby’s, New York, 8 January 1991, lot 139.

Literature: L.A. Schwartz, 'The Dutch Drawings in the Teyler Museum. Artists born between 1740 and 1800', Haarlem, Ghent and Doornspijk, 2004, under no. 328.

Dirk Langendijk was one of the most prolific draughtsmen of the 18th Century, specializing in imaginary and historic military drawings. For the latter theme the artist did not have to look beyond the borders of his country, as the conflicts between the Orangists and patriots caused plenty of turmoil during his lifetime. Langendijk’s numerous drawings depict a range of military scenes showing cavalry encounters, the attacks of towns, sea battles and battles in Egypt, among other subjects. Despite a notorious reputations as an enthusiastic drinker, Langendijk’s drawings demonstrate exceptional artistic skill and discipline; he worked like a miniaturist, rendering even the most minute details, perhaps result of the artist’s nearsightedness.

The present drawing is no exception to this working method; in detailed this sheet Langendijk depicts a military convoy driving a herd of cattle against the backdrop of a dramatic mountainous landscape. The figures and cattle are drawn with the greatest precision, while the landscape is loosely and delicately rendered with the brush. The drawing too shows the artist’s brilliant ability to suggest light, here by a play between grey ink and blank paper. The artist executed another version of this composition of the same size and technique, now in the Teylers Museum, Haarlem,[1] and another larger and incised linear drawing of the same composition with slight differences, is in the Atlas Van Stolk Collection in the Historisch Museum, Rotterdam. [2]

[1] inv. X 40:19; see L.A. Schwartz, 'op. cit'., no. 328, ill.
[2] inv. 25266; 'ibid'., under no. 328.

  • Instagram

© 2021 - present. Jonathan den Otter. All rights reserved. Created by Eitje

bottom of page