Esaias van de Velde

The painting is slightly less bright than the illustration suggests, but is representative of the actual colours. The panel consists of one plank and is bevelled along all the edges , although the left side has minor bevelling. The paint surface is in good condition, although a bit abraded in some spots in the darker hues. No damages are visible to the naked eye. A few discoloured retouchings in the sky are visible to the naked eye. Inspection under UV-light confirms the aforesaid and reveals minor spots of retouching in the group to the right and a spot around the gun shot. Minor strengthening of the signature seems to be appear. Otherwise no retouchings become visible. Offered in an ebony wood frame, in perfect condition as illustrated in the catalogue. (JD).
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This painting is a fine example of Van de Velde's method of reusing sketches for the final compositions for his paintings. In the collection of the Kröller-Möller Museum, Otterloo, there are two dated sketches from 1627 by Esaias van de Velde, which most likely came from a sketchbook (see figs. 1 and 2).¹ Another sketch, which is now in a private collection in Germany, follows these sketches closely in style and probably also dates from the end of the 1620s.² Several figures and horses from all three sketches seem to have served as models for the present painting.

1. Now in the Rijksmuseum Kröller-Möller, Otterloo, inv. nos. 215, klein 2 (L. 2249a) and 215, klein 3 (L. 2249a), both dated 1627.
2. See G.S. Keyes, Esaias van den Velde, 1587-1630, Doornspijk 1984, p. 218, no. D20, reproduced.