Workshop of Jan van Goyen (Leiden 1596–1656 The Hague) A river landscape with a ferry and fishermen in their boats, bears signature lower left (on boat): VGoyen, oil on panel, 73.2 x 99.6 cm, framed Provenance: Aristocratic collection, Belgium The present painting, with its carefully sketched out composition depicting a ferry plying the water, a windmill in the background with barges furling their sails, and a tavern upon the bank beyond is typical of the poetic and serene oeuvre of the great Gouden Eeuw river landscapist Jan van Goyen. However, the current panel, in spite of the signature, is most likely the work of a gifted pupil. Van Goyen set up his workshop in the Hague in the 1630s. Ever short of funds, he took on pupils, and worked prolifically, executing well over a thousand paintings. Although few of the names of those he took on within his busy workshop are recorded, he did register Nicolaes Berchem, Jan Steen, and Adriaen van der Kabel as assistants with the Guild of Saint Luke in the Hague.