Plaque with a Dutch landscape, possibly a view of Kethel

Frederick van Frijtom

ca. 1660–92 · Tin-glazed earthenware · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Trained as a painter, Van Frytom is foremost known today for his exquisite blue monochrome depictions of landscapes on faience plaques which were meant to be framed and hung on the wall. Some of his compositions show typically Dutch scenes, such as this view of the river with village tentatively identified as a view of Kethel (now part of Schiedam). Given its vicinity to Delft, in fact the city's church towers are visible in the distance, Van Frytom could easily have sketched this location from life. Even though some pictorial liberty was tken, the artist followed in the Dutch tradition of topographical views such as the Plaisante Plaetsen by Claes Jansz Visscher (1587–1652). Other plaques by Van Frytom are more Italianate in style, such as the rendering of a mountainous landscape with travelers on a bridge (50.211.39).

Artist

Frederick van Frijtom

Date

ca. 1660–92

Medium

Tin-glazed earthenware

Culture

Dutch, Delft

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Gift of R. Thornton Wilson, in memory of Florence Ellsworth Wilson, 1950