The Harbour of Middelburg
by VENNE, Adriaen Pietersz. van de, Oil on panel, 64 x 134 cm
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.