Enkele schuiten nabij een kust - Jacobus Luberti Augustini

A delicate 1763 ink and wash drawing by Jacobus Luberti Augustini, depicting figures in a rowing boat near a larger sailing vessel.

This drawing by Jacobus Luberti Augustini, dated 1763, captures a quiet maritime scene typical of the Dutch tradition. The composition features a small rowing boat occupied by several figures in the foreground, while a larger sailing vessel sits nearby on the water. The artist employs a delicate use of pen and ink, supplemented by subtle grey washes to define the forms of the boats, the figures, and the distant shoreline. The light, atmospheric treatment of the sky and water reflects the artist's focus on clarity and observation.

Augustini, a Dutch artist active during the late eighteenth century, demonstrates a refined command of line and tone in this work. The figures are rendered with economy, their postures suggesting the casual activity of daily life on the water. The inclusion of a barrel floating in the foreground adds a sense of depth and realism to the scene. The overall effect is one of calm, with the muted palette ensuring that the focus remains on the structural details of the vessels and the interaction between the occupants of the rowing boat. This piece provides a clear example of the maritime subjects that remained popular in Dutch art long after the height of the seventeenth-century masters. The work is signed and dated in the lower left corner, confirming its provenance as an early effort by the artist. It serves as a fine example of eighteenth-century draughtsmanship, where the balance between ink outlines and wash shading creates a sense of spatial volume without the need for colour. The composition is balanced, drawing the eye from the foreground activity toward the larger boat and the hazy coastline beyond.