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Sotheby’s Amsterdam Auction Offers 19th Century Dutch Romantic Paintings

Sotheby’s Amsterdam auction of 19th Century European Painting on 7 June 2011 offers a broad range of high quality Dutch Romantic Paintings as well as works by artists from The Hague and Amsterdam School . The paintings will be on exhibition in Sotheby’s Amsterdam galleries beginning 3 June 2011.

One of the highlights is Willem Koekkoek’s (1839-1895) Winter in the Streets of a Dutch Town (lot 22). After growing up in Amsterdam, Willem Koekkoek became one of the most distinguished painters of townscapes, travelling throughout the Netherlands. His paintings were greatly admired all over Europe for their nostalgic mood and uniquely refined and detailed style of painting. The present lot is an impressive example, not only because of its size, but also because of its ability to capture Holland’s Age of Romanticism. The painting is estimated at €100,000 – 150,000 and has been in an Australian private collection for decades.

Another striking painting in the sale is Gari Melchers’ (1860-1932) In church (lot 61). This American artist settled in Egmond aan Zee (The Netherlands) in 1884 where he was especially attracted to the devotional spirit of the locals. In the present lot Melchers combined several traditional Dutch costumes in order to enhance the pictorial effect. Estimated at €50,000 – 70,000, the painting is an exuberant feast of color and a highlight in the oeuvre of the artist, who was in his time regarded as the leading American proponent of Naturalism. The present lot has been in the collection of Walther Rathenau, the Berlin industrialist and founder of the German Democratic Party, who was murdered in 1922 by officers of the extreme right wing party because of his Jewish background and political ideas.

Also included in this sale are five paintings from an important Canadian collection, each painting being a highlight in the artist’s oeuvre, including works by Cornelis Springer, Petrus van Schendel, Andreas Schelfhout, Salomon Verveer and Nicolaas Johannes Roosenboom (lots 39-43).

From another private collection and in the family of the present owner since 1964, is A winterscape with skaters by a refreshment stall (lot 38), by the master of winter scenes, Andreas Schelfhout (1787-1870). This painting has all the elements an attractive winter landscape should have: windmills, skaters and refreshment stall with figures having a drink (est. €170,000 – 200,000).

Dutch impressionism is represented by several paintings and watercolors and includes artists like Jacob Maris, Johan Hendrik Weissenbruch, Hendrik Willem Mesdag, Isaac Israels and Floris Arntzenius. From a private collection in Canada a large canvas by Jozef Israels is offered (lot 70), depicting an interior scene with a fishermen’s family, a subject which made Israel’s internationally respected as the master of Dutch realism.

Image: Gari Melchers, In church, estimate €50,000 – 70,000. Photo: Sotheby’s.

Sale: Sotheby’s Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 30
Tuesday, 7 June 2011 at 2pm
Exhibition:
3-5 June 2011, from 10am to 5pm

** Pre-sale estimates do not include buyer’s premium

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