拍品專文
A gold medal for his exhibit Brisants de la Mer du Nord at the 1870 Paris Salon immediately established Mesdag's reputation as painter of marines. In the following years Mesdag byhis painting revealed himself as the chroniceur of the fishing village Scheveningen with its fleet. The development plans for a modern infrastructure and a sea harbour endangered the fisherman's idylle and gave Mesdag reasons to create a giant panoramic view of Scheveningen. This was his chance to paint the "largest seascape ever" on a canvas covering over 1600 square meters. By the time the completion of the Mesdag Panorama of Scheveningen was a fact, August 1881, the themes of fishing vessels, beach, sea and sky held few secrets for the artist.
The accomplishment of the Panorama clearly had an effect on Mesdag's technique of painting. He had become routined by the numerous preparatory studies and had learned to work fast.
The paintings from the following period are characterized by smooth accuracy and swift brushwork.
Mesdag painted a series of atmospheric calms between circa 1887 and 1995, linked by the motif of overwhelming cloudy skies over immens glassy sheets of water. The importance he attached to this paintings is evident from the fact that he send similar works to the Paris Salons, and sold one to the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.
The present lot is a fine example of Mesdag's matured artistry and technical skills, in wich the monumentality of the colourful sky is most striking.
The accomplishment of the Panorama clearly had an effect on Mesdag's technique of painting. He had become routined by the numerous preparatory studies and had learned to work fast.
The paintings from the following period are characterized by smooth accuracy and swift brushwork.
Mesdag painted a series of atmospheric calms between circa 1887 and 1995, linked by the motif of overwhelming cloudy skies over immens glassy sheets of water. The importance he attached to this paintings is evident from the fact that he send similar works to the Paris Salons, and sold one to the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam.
The present lot is a fine example of Mesdag's matured artistry and technical skills, in wich the monumentality of the colourful sky is most striking.