Old Master and British Works on Paper Including drawings from the Oppé Collection

/

Lot 266
  • 266

Abraham de Verwer

Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • Abraham de Verwer
  • Shipping off Hellevoetsluis, in South Holland
  • Point of the brush and grey, brown and reddish-brown wash, within brown ink framing lines;
    signed in brown ink, lower right: verwer and inscribed, upper left: hellevoet slujs mynne af vaart naar vranckrijck

Provenance

The Duke of Sussex (according to modern note on the back of the frame)

Condition

Laid down on an old mount. The sheet has discolored somewhat and there is evidence of light foxing and some minor staining throughout. The medium remains reasonably strong throughout this atmospheric marine scene. Sold in a modern giltwood frame.
"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."

Catalogue Note

This delicate and refined marine is a typical example of the relatively rare drawings of Abraham de Verwer.  As the inscription in the upper left corner indicates, the location depicted is Hellevoetsluis, in the province of South Holland, an extremely important Dutch naval and fishing centre during the 17th century.  In the background to the left, we see the church of Nieuw-Helvoet.

The inscription also notes that this was the artist's point of departure for France, suggesting that the drawing dates from 1636 or '37, the years inscribed on many of an important group of around a dozen surviving drawings by de Verwer of towns and ports along the coast of South Holland, Flanders and northern France, and views of Paris, most of which are now in the British Museum.1  Another drawing by de Verwer of Hellevoetsluis is in the collection of the Rijksuniversiteit Leiden.2

We are most grateful to Stijn Alsteens, Hans Buijs and Laurens Schoemaker for their help in deciphering and interpreting the inscription.

1.  S. Alsteens and H. Buijs, Paysages de France, dessinés par Lambert Doomer et les artistes hollandaise et flamands des XVIe et XVIIe siècles, Paris 2008, pp. 247-256 

2.  Boedel Nijnhuis, Portef. 305, vol. II, no. 4