Workshop of Matthieu Van Plattenberg, Stormy Navy with Vessels, 1700, Oil on Canvas

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Matthieu Van Plattenberg (Antwerp 1608 - Paris 1660) workshop of

Stormy Seascape with Vessels

Oil on canvas (90 x 120 … Read more Matthieu Van Plattenberg (Antwerp 1608 - Paris 1660) workshop of

Stormy Seascape with Vessels

Oil on canvas (90 x 120 cm - In antique frame 103 x 133 cm)

This evocative coastal view, dating from the late 17th or early 18th century, where the rough waves of the sea lash impetuously against the vessels sailing by, is rightfully part of the production of the workshop of the Flemish artist Matthieu Van Plattenberg (Antwerp 1608 - Paris 1660), a leading exponent of 17th-century Flemish art.

The fulcrum of the scene is a large vessel, adrift in the waves and clearly struggling near the rocks, with its crew trying to keep it from sinking, while another vessel struggles with the same difficulties, but farther from shore.

We find Van Plattenberg's pictorial characteristics throughout, displayed with remarkable pictorial skill, which made the artist a leading figure in this genre and in the depiction of storms with turbulent seas. In this canvas, he masterfully captures the power of the narrative, where the arrival of the storm is punctuated by the threatening sky with large, chasing clouds, and the swollen sea with gigantic waves that lap the ships' hulls.

The scene is intensely dramatic, with a vivid light filtering through the clouds that accentuates and contributes to the painting's overall sense of vigor. The luminosity, with particular attention to the light tones of the waves and clouds, is played to convey a lively effect of movement, creating the realistic illusion of crashing waves and the tension of the wind.

Born in Antwerp in 1608, a pupil of Andries van Eertvelt, he spent most of his career outside Flanders, first in Italy and then in France, where he played a key role in the thematic trend of marine storms, which enjoyed great success during the 17th century, as the intense drama conveyed by stormy seas was prized by collectors. In Italy in particular, he became a trusted reference for Pieter Mulier the Tempest, but also for painters such as Salvator Rosa, Antonio Francesco Peruzzini, and Marco Ricci.

The growing prosperity of the Dutch and Flemish merchant classes had led to a strong demand for paintings for the walls of homes or state offices. These paintings no longer featured traditional historical or religious subjects, but depicted scenes more closely related to everyday life, such as cityscapes, landscapes, and, above all, seascapes.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The painting is sold complete with a beautiful antique 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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