.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
The present picture is a fine example of a winter landscape by van der Neer, a speciality he developed probably under the influence of the work of Hendrick Avercamp. The present work is to be dated c. 1650-60 on grounds of the style of costume worn by the elegant couple in the foreground. It is likely that the rendering of the figures was influenced by Jan van Goyen; the manner is echoed in works executed at this time by the younger Amsterdam artist Jan Beerstraten. Van der Neer had only taken up painting after he settled in Amsterdam in the early 1630s, at which time his style reflected that of his earlier fellow denizens of Gorinchem, the brothers Camphuysen.
The view depicted has not been identified, indeed it may well be imaginary. Christopher Brown has recently pointed out (The National Gallery Catalogue, The Dutch School, revised ed., London, 1991, under no. 732) that van der Neer 'rarely depicted actual places'.
A notable characteristic of van der Neer's art was his ability to render natural light (a speciality he was to develop was the moonlit view presumably under the indirect influence of Elsheimer, see lot 17). In the present picture, he depicts a roseate sunset - a Dutch answer to the work of Claude, then active in Rome.
The view depicted has not been identified, indeed it may well be imaginary. Christopher Brown has recently pointed out (The National Gallery Catalogue, The Dutch School, revised ed., London, 1991, under no. 732) that van der Neer 'rarely depicted actual places'.
A notable characteristic of van der Neer's art was his ability to render natural light (a speciality he was to develop was the moonlit view presumably under the indirect influence of Elsheimer, see lot 17). In the present picture, he depicts a roseate sunset - a Dutch answer to the work of Claude, then active in Rome.