Kostverloren House on the Amstel

A brick Dutch manor with a ruined tower stands by a river under a vast cloudy sky. The house is the subject, painted as a place as much as a building. The garden, the water or the sky around it sets the mood and gives the walls and windows their light.

Its palette, measured from the canvas, is led by chocolate, with stone and greige in support: a mid-toned, warm picture. Those warm tones give it a glow that comes alive in lamplight and deepens as the evening draws in. The wide format lets the scene unfold from side to side, with something new to find towards its edges.

A wide canvas like this one is a natural focal point above a sofa, a sideboard or a bed, where its width can carry the wall. It suits an entrance hall or a study, a view to come home to. Chocolate and stone are easy to echo in cushions, a throw or a painted wall nearby, and it holds its own in a mixed gallery wall.

Jacob van Ruisdael made the original around 1660; in the collection it is listed under Baroque. It carries the drama of the Baroque, with deep shadow and a strong fall of light that pull the scene towards you. This painting is printed to order on gallery-wrapped canvas in 30 × 40 cm or 40 × 60 cm, from the image you see here. The canvas wraps around its frame, so it arrives ready to hang, with no framing needed. Want yourself in it instead? Add a photo and see your portrait free before you order.