Workshop of Herman Saftleven Il Vecchio, Winter Landscape, Utrecht, 1700, Oil on Canvas

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Description

Herman saftleven the elder (rotterdam 1609 - utrecht 1685) workshop

ice skating in front of the city walls of utrecht

… Read more Herman saftleven the elder (rotterdam 1609 - utrecht 1685) workshop

ice skating in front of the city walls of utrecht

oil on canvas (81 x 65 cm - framed 105 x 91 cm)

the painting depicts a captivating winter landscape, with a glimpse of a city set on the banks of a frozen river. Numerous figures animate the canvas, immortalized in their daily lives, oblivious to the harsh climate surrounding them, offering us a snapshot of 17th-century folk life.

specifically, it depicts the city of utrecht, with the famous plompetoren, the tall watchtower that was part of the city's defenses in the middle ages (also known as the thieves' tower, as it was also used as a prison). Nearby, we can see the now-defunct de vos tower, while in the background, we can admire the peak of the gothic church of st. James.

therefore, in addition to being a work of undeniable aesthetic and collectible value, it is also an important historical document on the ancient physiognomy of one of the most important cities in the netherlands, especially during the period of its great colonial power.

winter settings like ours reached their peak during the dutch golden age, a truly attractive pictorial genre, sought after by art collectors of the time, as well as by contemporary flemish art lovers nearly four centuries later.

following pieter brueghel the elder, who introduced this pictorial genre in the third quarter of the 16th century, a large number of artists active between the late 16th and 17th centuries created their own personal variations on the theme of landscapes immersed in the coldest season.

although based on a real vision, the view reveals an almost dreamlike setting, depicting a sort of fairytale on canvas, bathed in light from the horizon that floods the expansive landscape with a very warm, orange hue, contrasting with the idea of ​​a cold winter.

from an attribution standpoint, our canvas can be attributed to the workshop of the flemish painter herman saftleven, a painter of river views with castles that made him one of the most renowned dutch artists of the seventeenth century. It is, in fact, a typical composition of the painter, executed with quality and attention to detail, and characterized by a pleasing, soft, and delicate palette.

a similar painting, dated 1646, is currently housed at the gemäldegalerie alte meister in kassel, germany, and our canvas, of similar quality, could likely be a version painted by the artist or a close follower.

additional information:

the painting is sold complete with a beautiful gilded frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic . This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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