Storm Off a Sea Coast, also known asThe Breakwater, is a 1670oil on canvas painting by theDutch Golden Age painterJacob van Ruisdael. It is in the collection of theLouvre in Paris.[1]
The painting is calledA Storm at Sea Off the Dykes of Holland in the 1911catalogue raisonné compiled byCornelis Hofstede de Groot, in which it is catalogue number 961. De Groot described the scene: "On the right is a dyke lined with piles, beyond which is a fisherman's cottage with a few trees. On the left corner of the dyke, great waves are breaking. Farther back rise the masts of several large vessels, as well as the stern with a Dutch flag."[2] The painting is calledStorm Off a Sea Coast in Slive's 2001catalogue raisonné of Ruisdael, in which it is given catalogue number 653.[3]
In the 19th century,Vincent van Gogh called this painting by Ruisdael, along withThe Bush andRay of Light, "magnificent".[4] The Louvre has in French: "L'Estacade ou Gros temps sur une digue de Hollande, dit aussi Une tempête". Its inventory number is INV. 1818. Its dimensions are 110 cm x 160 cm.[5]
