Lot Essay
The synagogues depicted are the Nieuwe Sjoel (the New Synagogue) on the left and the Grote Sjoel (the Great Synagogue) in the centre. The Nieuwe Sjoel was built in 1750/52 after a design attributed to G.F. Maybaum; the Grote Sjoel was designed by the city architect Daniël Stalpaert (1615-1676) and built by Elias Bouman. The Ashkenazi Synagogues served untill 1940 as the main synagogues for the Amsterdam Jewish community and house the Jewish Historical Museum since 1987.
The view in the present lot was quite popular amongst 18th century topographical painters like Jan Ekels I and Jan ten Compe. In the 19th century however the subject seems to have appeared less frequently.
It is likely that the present lot is an early work by the artist as its composition is still very much indebted to 18th century prototypes, especially the engravings of the site by P. Fouquet Jr. and Jan de Beyer.
See colour illustration
The view in the present lot was quite popular amongst 18th century topographical painters like Jan Ekels I and Jan ten Compe. In the 19th century however the subject seems to have appeared less frequently.
It is likely that the present lot is an early work by the artist as its composition is still very much indebted to 18th century prototypes, especially the engravings of the site by P. Fouquet Jr. and Jan de Beyer.
See colour illustration