Jan de Beijer

With P. De Boer, Amsterdam, 1945;
With Gebr. Douwes, Amsterdam;
sale, Amsterdam, Mak van Waay, 15 January 1974, lot 58;
sale, Amsterdam, Mak van Waay, 28 October 1975, lot 5;
Jacobus A. Klaver, Amsterdam

H. Romers, J. de Beijer Oeuvre-Catalogus, The Hague 1969, cat. 1072

Framed. The paper is somewhat yellowed, although this is particularly noticeable at the edges of the sheet and is concealed by the mount. There is some damage at the centre of the lower edge, and a hole to the right of the church tower, both repaired on the verso. Some slight, pale fox marks, visible in the sky only.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Jan de Beijer was one of the leading topographical draughtsman of his time, and produced a wide range of views of towns, castles and other locations throughout Holland.  In 1722 he settled for a while in Amsterdam, where he was a pupil of Cornelis Pronk, but thereafter travelled extensively around the country, before basing himself in Utrecht from 1753-1765. His topographical views are generally fairly reliable, and are therefore of considerable documentary value.

The Westerkerk, familiar to modern-day visitors to Amsterdam thanks to its proximity to the popular attractions of the Jordaan and the Anne Frank House, is one of the most attractive of the city's 17th-century churches. At 85 metres, its tower is also the tallest in Amsterdam. The church was designed by Hendrick de Keyser, and built between 1620 and 1631. Following the architect's death in 1621, his son Pieter assumed responsibility for the project, and replaced the octagonal tower of his father's design with the square one that we see today.

A monochrome drawing by De Beijer of the church seen from the corner of the Bloemgracht was formerly in the remarkable Leonhardt Collection of Amsterdam topographical material,¹ and another view, this time from the Keizersgracht, was also sold some years ago.² Another watercolour dated 1766, in the Amsterdam Stadsarchief, shows almost exactly the same view as here.³ The present, large watercolour is, however, one of the most impressive of all the various drawings that De Beijer made of the Westerkerk.

1.  Sold, Amsterdam,  Christie's, 20 November 1989, lot 175

2.  Sold, Amsterdam, Sotheby's, 12 November 1996, lot 184

3.  205 by 177 mm. Romers, op. cit., cat. 1053