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Lot 3026 - A204 Old Master Paintings - Friday, 31. March 2023, 02.00 PM

WILLEM VAN DE VELDE the Younger

(Leiden 1633–1707 London)
Fishing boat at the coast during a lull.
Oil on panel.
Monogrammed lower left on the driftwood: W.V.V.
25 × 30.5 cm.

Provenance:
- Collection of William T. Blodgett, New York, 1909.
- Sale Koller, Zurich, 3.–4.11.1995, Lot 3043.
- Private collection, Switzerland.
- By descent, private collection, Switzerland.

Exhibited:
New York 1909, The Hudson-Fulton Celebration, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 25.9.–9.10.1909, no. 133.

Literature:
Cornelis Hofstede de Groot: Beschreibendes und kritisches Verzeichnis der Werke der hervorragendsten holländischen Maler des XVII. Jahrhunderts, vol. VII, Esslingen 1918, no. 329, p. 96.

The painting offered here is a characteristic example of van de Velde's early seascapes, in which he staffs the calm sea - often at low tide - with a few striking ships and figures. The lighting and composition here lend the scene an extraordinary calm.

Willem van de Velde was the son of the painter and ship draftsman Willem van de Velde the Elder (c. 1611-1693), which is reflected in his paintings in the precisely rendered rigging of the ships. His seascapes are among the most important in Dutch painting and influenced this genre well into the 18th century.

This painting was part of the Hudson-Fulton Exhibition in the 20th century, during which the maritime achievements of Henry Hudson (c. 1565-1611) and Robert Fulton (1765-1815) were particularly highlighted for New York's progress and identity. The 300th anniversary of the discovery of the Hudson River and the 100th anniversary of Fulton's first successful commercial use of the paddlewheel steamer provided the occasion for this anniversary exhibition. Henry Hudson, who landed in North America in 1609 on behalf of the Dutch East India Company, sailed up the Hudson River, later named after him, in search of a northwest passage to Asia, laying the foundation for Dutch colonization of the region.

The painting is registered at RKD, The Hague as by the hand of Willem van de Velde the younger.


CHF 30 000 / 40 000 | (€ 30 930 / 41 240)

Sold for CHF 46 660 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.