Lot Essay
Jonas Zeuner, who hailed from Kassel, immigrated to Amsterdam circa 1750. After having served in the army as a canonnier, he took up his artistic activities around 1750-1770, his first known work dating from 1770. Zeuner generally based his topographical views or drawings on engravings by contemporary artists. Jacobus Stellingwerf (c.1660-1736), Aert Schouman (1710-1792) and Johannes van Diepenhuyzen (active second half 18th Century), were the most active draughtsmen in the Hoeksche Waard in the 18th Century, and the present lot could well be based on one of their prototypes. This view of the village of Heinenoord, seen from the Sluissendijk, shows the harbor and part of the streem the Kreek in the foreground. The waterlevel of this harbor was artificially controlled by a lock dating back to circa 1600 and was improved in 1776, which stood in direct connection with the river the Oude Maas, just visible on the left. The spire of the church in the background, built circa 1450, was added in 1772. It has been suggested that the draughtsman on the Sluisserdijk is Jonas Zeuner himself. This a rare feature in his oeuvre as only two other works depicting an artist are known to exist. (J. Spenkels-ten Horn A. Sprenkels, ibid, nos. 132 and 139.