Aert van der Neer

Sir John Willoughby, by whose ancestors purchased in Holland at the end of the 18th century (according to the 1924 sale catalogue);
H. Darell Brown, Esq., London;
By whose Executors sold, London, Christie's, May 23, 1924, lot 35, to 'Cooper';
With Thomas Agnew & Sons, London (according to a label on the verso);
With Galerie Brunner, Paris;
With Pieter de Boer, Amsterdam, from whom purchased circa 1958 by the father of the present collector.

W. Schulz, Aert van der Neer, The Netherlands 2002, p. 447, cat. no. 1312 (as on panel).

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This canvas has a very old lining. The surface is stable. The painting seems to have been fairly recently cleaned yet the restoration, such as is it, leaves little to be desired. The restoration is almost entirely focused in the sky in two areas where there are two structural repairs. These are both small tears measuring approximately two inches long and running vertically, one situated in the upper left and the other in the center. There is also a patch of abrasion in the upper center which has been restored. The remainder of the picture is in surprisingly good condition. The sensitive dark colors and all of the details in the foreground are very well preserved. This picture deserves some attention now and the weakening of the canvas in the upper right and the poor restoration could be improved. Overall the condition is very healthy.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

We are grateful to Dr. Wolfgang-Schulz for reconfirming the attribution to Van der Neer on the basis of photographs.

As a painter of moonlit and winter landscapes, Van der Neer was one of the most important landscape painters of his day.  The present picture is a fine and characteristic example of these much admired nocturnal landscapes that ably illustrates his talent in rendering light and capturing the subtle definitions of atmosphere, a talent which ensured the development of his reputation.  The earliest among these types date from the mid-1640s but he was continually occupied by this genre throughout his career, varying the townscapes, staffage, and light effects accordingly.  Despite the many nocturnes that comprise his oeuvre, each one is unique and carefully rendered.  His keen optical sense for the special effects of light upon surface and mood suggests a deliberate approach and a painter whose imagination and constant awe before nature inform each other.