A Danish merchant on the IJ before Amsterdam

Hermanus was the younger brother of Barend Cornelis Koekkoek (1803-1862). A pupil of his father Johannes Hermanus Koekkoek (1778-1851), Hermanus painted sea- and river landscapes with a similar flair. At the beginning of his carreer, he concentrated on stormy seascapes. Later he painted more tranquil river landscapes and seascapes. The present lot shows a Danish two-master in an estuary before a capriccio view of Amsterdam. Some landmarks, such as the Zeemagazijn and the Koepelkerk can be discerned. However the lay-out of Amsterdam along the banks of the IJ are not entirely followed by the artist, who merely has depicted the busy activities in the waters before a harbour city than a realistic portrait. More important is the incredible open atmosphere Koekkoek has created here with the high cloud patterned sky, which opens for warm sunlight on the greenish waves. Koekkoek has succeeded to create a realistic impression of the typical Dutch weather and it's famous light.