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Lot Essay
Jan Willem van Borselen was educated by his father Pieter van Borselen (1802-1873) who painted landscapes, beaches, cities and still-lives. His son however concentrated mainly on the Dutch polder landscape. Jan Willem grew up in Gouda, an environment that was to exercise a major influence on him. The present lot for example depicts the river Vlist, between Schoonhoven and Haastrecht just outside Gouda, which was one of his favorite spots. His father regularly exhibited at the Tentoonstelling van Leevende Meesters which was first organised in 1808 at the initiative of King Lodewijk Napoleon, taking the Salon in Paris as its example. Jan Willem van Borselen had his debut there in 1839 at the very young age of thirteen, and would keep contributing to the Tentoonstelling van Leevende Meesters for the rest of his career with great success.
Jan Willem van Borselen was passionate about nature and studied it as much as he could. Moving to The Hague in 1855, he became an apprentice to Andreas Schelfhout. Apparently Schelfhout did not want to take on any more apprentices in 1855 but made an exception for Van Borselen due to his extraordinary talent. Two years later Van Borselen sold his first important painting to the Baron van Brienen in The Hague. Soon after this he met Anna Doeleman, marrying her in 1863. He became a prominent landscape painter and started working for the Royal Court in 1871. King Willem III was reputedly charmed by his views of the countryside.
Van Borselen initially painted in the traditional Romantic manner. He would later become inspired by the Barbizon and Hague School painters, gradually developing a looser technique and working en plein air. His ability to represent many different kinds of trees was remarkable, as can be seen in the present lot. The fresh and lucid depiction of nature with a firm sense of perspective and its vantage-point from the water are representative for his much admired oeuvre.
Jan Willem van Borselen was passionate about nature and studied it as much as he could. Moving to The Hague in 1855, he became an apprentice to Andreas Schelfhout. Apparently Schelfhout did not want to take on any more apprentices in 1855 but made an exception for Van Borselen due to his extraordinary talent. Two years later Van Borselen sold his first important painting to the Baron van Brienen in The Hague. Soon after this he met Anna Doeleman, marrying her in 1863. He became a prominent landscape painter and started working for the Royal Court in 1871. King Willem III was reputedly charmed by his views of the countryside.
Van Borselen initially painted in the traditional Romantic manner. He would later become inspired by the Barbizon and Hague School painters, gradually developing a looser technique and working en plein air. His ability to represent many different kinds of trees was remarkable, as can be seen in the present lot. The fresh and lucid depiction of nature with a firm sense of perspective and its vantage-point from the water are representative for his much admired oeuvre.