SEASONAL DELIGHTS: 19TH CENTURY PAINTINGS IN AMSTERDAM
T he sale of important 19th Century European Paintings at Sotheby's Amsterdam on
Tuesday 20 April 2004 offers impressive examples of the Dutch romantic school
and Dutch Impressionism. The summer landscapes, beach scenes and icy skating
scenes, consigned from several European collections, can be ranged among the
finest examples of Dutch 19th century painting.
Of interest is the collection of the late Mrs Jonker-Driessen. This private collection
was assembled during the last century and offers a cross-section of three influential
movements in Dutch nineteenth century art: Romantic Art (1830-1870), Hague
School (1870-1900) and Amsterdam Impressionism (1880-1920). Selected with a
fine eye for quality, each painting exemplifies outstanding taste and sound judgement. Highlights in this collection are
a colourful painting of playing kittens by Henriette Ronner, a lively street scene of The Hague by Floris Arntzenius and
a beach view of the famous Amsterdam impressionist Isaac Israels (pictured). In all its nuances, this private
collection offers a fine view on Dutch nineteenth art. In an imaginative way it illustrates the development of Dutch
romanticism to impressionism, covered in 13 outstanding paintings.
One of the absolute highlights of the sale is an impressive Wooded landscape with
figures on a path by a stream by Barend Cornelis Koekkoek (pictured). B.C.
Koekkoek is the most famous member of the artistic family Koekkoek and also the
most important Dutch romantic painter from the first half of the 19th century. Born in
Middelburg in 1803, he created forest- and winterlandscapes in the style of 17th
century masters of unparalleled mastery. The flat Dutch countryside failed to satisfy
Koekkoek's romantic soul and in 1843 he settled in Cleves, just over the German
border where the luscious forests and the surrounding Rhine landscape had
attracted Dutch painters already from the 17th century onwards. Among his pupils
were famous names such as Barend Klombeek, Alexander Daiwaille, Frederik
Marinus Kruseman, Lodewijk Johannes Kleijn and Koekkoek's brother Marinus Adrianus. B.C. Koekkoek laid the
foundations of a style that was to have a great influence in Dutch landscape painting of the 19th century, Kleefse
Romantiek. His Wooded Summer Landscape, now on offer, dates from 1846 and can be considered as one of his
masterpieces. The signed oil on canvas, measuring an impressive 84,5 by 106,5 cm, is estimated to sell for €
300,000-500,000.
Andreas Schelfhout (1787-1870) was one of the most celebrated Dutch painters of
his day. His strength lay in picturesque winter landscapes and the present painting,
Skaters on a frozen waterway (pictured), is one of his finest works. The beautifully
detailed ice scene is depicting a frozen waterway with many figures on the ice,
some gathered around a refreshments stall, others cheerfully skating on the glassy
ice. Superb is his treatment of the ice, the scratches, tears and reflections have
been rendered with great natural quality. The fresh colours and subtle distribution
of the light render a great clarity to the scene. The oil on panel was painted in
1857, at the height of the artist's career, and is estimated € 180,000- 220,000.
Cornelis Springer (1817-1891) had an immense influence on the 19th century
painting of town views. He came from a family of building contractors and had a
solid knowledge of architectural drawing. His townscapes usually depict the centre
of the town or some characteristic buildings, rendered with a keen eye for historical
detail. The richly decorated facades of the 17th century patrician houses, churches
and town halls furnished him with every opportunity to display his unique painterly
skills. Springer populated his town views with numerous figures, which adds to the
liveliness of his paintings. His picturesque scenes bath in a bright sunlight, making
maximum use of the play of light and dark. Two important works by Springer are
among the highlights of this sale. View of the Wijnhuistoren in Zutphen dates from
1857 - his best period. This lively market scene hasn't been on the market for many
years (€ 180,000 - 220,000, pictured). His second important paintings depicts a
Busy street in Bremen with the Saint Johann church in the background from 1864
(€120,000-180,000.
A monumental painting by Hendrik Willem Mesdag (1831-1915) is titled Le départ
du bateau de sauvetage (Putting out the lifeboat) (pictured). The oil on panel from
1867 depicts a busy beach with many people witnessing a life boat disappearing
in the waves. Mesdag was one of the key-members of the Hague School, a
movement that swept Dutch art in the 1870s and 1880s. He received painting
lessons in Brussels from his cousin Laurens Alma Tadema and from Willem
Roelofs. In Brussels he grew familiar with the Barbizon School and also with the
broadly painted seascapes of the Belgian artists Louis Artan and P.J. Clays. After
a visit to the isle of Nordeney, Mesdag decided to become a painter of seascapes. He moved to the fishing-village
Scheveningen near The Hague, where he could be close to his main source of inspiration: the North Sea. His
breakthrough came in 1870, when one of his large seascapes was awarded a gold medal at the Paris salon.
Mesdag's magnificent seascape now on offer is estimated € 60,000-80,000.
Johannes Evert Akkeringa (1861-1942) is represented with a delightful scene of
Children on the beach (pictured), a signed oil on canvas that is estimated€35,00045,000
Viewing: 16, 17 and 18 April 2004, daily from 10am to 5pm, Sotheby's Amsterdam
Sale Tuesday 20 April at 2pm and 7pm
IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE BY EMAIL
For press information, please contact:
Diana Ridderikhoff
Sotheby's Press Office Amsterdam
Tel: +31 20 550 2205/6
[email protected]