Jan Abrahams Beerstraten

Jan Beerstraaten painted winter landscapes, harbours and naval battles, with snow-covered villages, skaters on frozen canals and ships in port. His pictures give a detailed record of seventeenth-century Dutch towns and buildings.

Born in Amsterdam, he worked there all his life. He painted scenes of the Anglo-Dutch Wars and imaginary Mediterranean harbours, as well as real churches and castles, some now lost. His Castle of Muiden in Winter is in the National Gallery in London.

His works are in the Rijksmuseum, the Metropolitan Museum and the Louvre. Look at the winter scenes, with their pale skies and small skating figures.