The Royal Palace and the Nieuwe Kerk on the Dam, Amsterdam

Vreedenburgh was born in 1880 in Woerden. He was mostly an autodidact, although he had been introduced to the trade of painting at an early stage in his life since his father had a decorating studio in Woerden. Vreedenburgh was a friend of Willem Bastiaan Tholen, who advised the artist on several occasions. Like Tholen, Vreedenburgh too had a small boat with which he set out on the Loosdrechtse Plassen and the then 'Zuiderzee'.
He had settled in Hattem, near Zwolle, in 1915 and created a number of views of the IJssel. He travelled for some time, visiting France, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. On his return he moved to Laren. Vreedenburgh added city views of Amsterdam as a subject matter in 1917, coinciding with his return from abroad and his move to Laren. The present lot is a good example of a city scene, executed ten years later, in 1927. The Royal Palace of the Dam is depicted in all its architectural glory as the centre of the nation's capital, with city life shown around its statuesque flanks. Vreedenburgh's appreciation of a colourful palet is well illustrated in this work with details in the background set out in red and yellow, and with the fresh green of a small park, which is now no longer present, to the foreground.