Studio: international art (11.1897)

South Holland as a Sketching Ground

Another trip well worth the taking during a stay
at Rotterdam is to Delft and Delfshaven. At the
former will be found two admirable examples of
ecclesiastical architecture in the old and new
churches. The first-named contains the monu-
ments of several men of eminence in the arts of
peace and war, including those of Peter Petersen
Heijn, who rose through all the grades " from
powder-monkey to admiral;" of Leeuwenhock,
the famous naturalist; and of that fine old sea-
dog, Martin Tromp, between whom and Blake
the honours of battle were fairly "easy." The
inscription on this latter monument, unlike the
majority of similar effusions, possesses the rare
distinction of being truthful, for it tells that, " He
left to posterity a grand example of mastery in
naval warfare, of fidelity to the State, of prudence,
of courage, of intrepidity, and of immovable firm-
ness."

If possible, a stay of several days should be made
at Delfshaven. It is an ideal spot for a painter.
From the shore he can revel in the multitudinous
transformations of the waterway covered with every
variety of vessels, from the Rotterdam ketch, or
the Schiedam brig, to the more imposing ocean
steamer sweeping past with the grey-green waves
swirling round her bows and breaking away into a
fork of eddying waters in her wake.

In the surrounding neighbourhood, easily acces-
sible from the town, he cannot fail to be fascinated
by the vast stretches of flat country, the busy
windmills, " silhouetted against the firmament on
high ; " the black and white cattle dotting the rich
green pastures, the picturesque figures of the
toiling peasants, and the wide expanse of fine
open skies.

But perhaps the most attractive locality in the
whole of South Holland, from an artist's point of
view, is Scheveningen. I would strongly urge
upon any one stopping at this peaceful old town
to make an effort to pay a visit to the shore in the
early morning before the day is " aired," and, if
possible, before the sun has risen. If the elements
are propitious—and how smiling and well-behaved
that fickle North Sea can be at times—he will be
able to appreciate Mr. Auberon Herbert's beautiful
lines in "Windfall and Waterdrift" :

" The sun is at rest, for the storms are o'er ;
Just touched with the hand of night,
And a line of shadow creeps to the shore,
Then flashes in silver light.

"j^Like a note that stoops in its flight and droops,
And clings for a while to the ground ;
Then trembles and wakes from its trance and breaks
Into passion and glory of sound."

As the dawn approaches the dark clouds

THE RIVER AT DELFSHAVEN

FROM A PENCIL SKETCH BY G. HORTON