View of the Buitenhof, The Hague, the Hofvijfer and the left part of the Binnenhof beyond

Originally trained as a portrait painter, Cornelis Pronk became one of the leading topographical artists of his generation. He travelled through Holland, documenting sites of architectural interest in quick sketches, on which he would base more worked-out versions that were often translated in prints. The sketch on which this composition is based is in the Gemeentearchief, The Hague (inv. KLA 120), and the present drawing was engraved by Hendrik Spilman.