Interior of the Church of St Bavo in Haarlem

Unknown artist

1636-04-15

oil on panel

Rijksmuseum

A view through arched stone columns into a large, well-lit church interior with multiple organs and a few figures. The perspective draws the eye towards the distant windows and architectural details. Saenredam specialized in architectural painting. He studied buildings closely, making detailed drawings of them, which he then reworked into paintings. Here he chose a vantage point from behind an arch, which creates a second framing element. Our gaze is automatically drawn upwards to the old organ, which has a painted scene of the Resurrection of Christ. This is a remnant of the by-then long-abolished Catholic decoration.