Aert van der Neer

Thurkow Collection, The Hague;
Their sale, Amsterdam, Sotheby's, October 30, 1979, lot 53, unsold (as by Manner of Van der Neer);
Anonymous sale, Amsterdam, Christie's, May 9, 2001, lot 145, to Alazraki (as by Attributed to van der Neer);
With Daphne Alazraki, New York;
With Warren Walker;
From whom acquired by the present owner.

W. Schulz, Aert van der Neer, Doornspijk 2002, no. 1113, p. 405 (under "Present whereabouts unknown, attribution plausible").

Canvas has an older relining. Overall the picture is in good condition. No major areas of loss, and additionally no major areas of repair. There are a few scattered retouches in the sky which are visible under UV, notably just above the trees to the left, and again, above the trees in the right hand side of the composition. The figures and trees themselves appear untouched. In a nice state of preservation, may be hung as is. In a carved and painted wooden frame which is in very nice condition.
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.

The present painting illustrates Aert van der Neer's ability to represent light using subtle tonal changes to create a sense of atmosphere and space.  He was especially fond of depicting scenes at night, or during sunset or sunrise due to the interesting light effects.  Here, he suggests the setting sun by restricting his palette to cool tones of green and blue, with just a hint of yellow, visible in the sky and reflected in the water, to suggest the setting sun.  The slightly elevated viewpoint, expansive river view, and large tree anchoring the foreground are all characteristic of van der Neer's ouevre, as are the figures animating the foreground. 

We are grateful to Dr. Schulz for endorsing the attribution to Aert van der Neer based on photographs.