Harbor at Sunset

Follower of Claude Lorrain

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a maritime scene with a setting sun at the center, illuminating the scene in yellow light. In the bottom left corner, people stand on a stone ledge, looking out across the water. Some of them are in small rowboats or larger sailing boats that float across the water. A large tower or castle surrounded by tall trees is on the edge of the water on the left, with more people sitting or standing around it. In the distance on the right, misty, light blue mountains are visible behind tall sailing ships that all face towards the setting sun. The water is dark green, with the golden reflection of the sun creating a vertical line down the center. The sky at the top of the painting is light blue and covered with small clouds, fading to pale yellow towards the horizon.