Salomon van Ruysdael

A river landscape with a sailboat at left, three fishermen casting their nets at right, and other boats and figures; A wooded landscape with two men on horseback, a carriage with travelers, onlookers, and animals

Guaranteed Property

Auction Closed

January 26, 04:01 PM GMT

Estimate

400,000 - 600,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Dutch Masterpieces from the Theiline Scheumann Collection

Salomon van Ruysdael

Naarden 1600/3 - 1670 Haarlem

A river landscape with a sailboat at left, three fishermen casting their nets at right, and other boats and figures;

A wooded landscape with two men on horseback, a carriage with travelers, onlookers, and animals

the former faintly signed in monogram lower left on wood: SV...

a pair, both oil on panel, both ovals

each panel: 14¾ by 20 in.; 37.5 by 50.8 cm.

each framed: 21⅝ by 27 in.; 54.9 by 68.6 cm.

(2)

Archibald Hope, The Hague;
His sale, The Hague, Holland Notary, 19 December 1821, lot 33 (as van Goyen);
Where acquired by Johan Steengracht van Oostcapelle (1782–1846), The Hague;
Thence by direct descent in the family auction of 1847 for 150 guilders to his daughter Cecilia Maria Countess van Pallandt - Steengracht van Oostcapelle (1813-1899), The Hague and from 1837 onwards at Keukenhof Castle, Lisse;
Thence by descent to her brother Johan Frederik (Frits) Steengracht van Oostcapelle (1810-1862);
Cornelia Van Lynden – van Pallandt (1840-1923), Keukenhof Castle, Lisse, by at least 1863;
Jan Maurits Diederik Count van Lynden (1864-1930), Keukenhof Castle, Lisse;
With A. Nystad, Lochem;
A. Schwarz, Amsterdam, by 1975;
With Charles Roelofsz, Amsterdam, 1990;
From whom acquired.

W. Stechow, Salomon van Ruysdael, Berlin 1938, p. 79, cat. nos. 97-98;
W. Stechow, Salomon van Ruysdael, Berlin 1975, p. 82, cat. nos. 97-98;
G. Jaspers, 'Uit het oog-niet uit het hart. De teloorgang van een schilderijencollectie', in: Jaarboek Kasteel Keukenhof 3 (2009), p. 51.

Haarlem, Frans Hals Museum, Catalogus van de tentoonstelling van Oude Kunst uit het bezit van bewoners van Haarlem en omstreken, June - July 1915, nos. 91-92 (as Jan van Goyen);
Leiden, Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal, Catalogus der Tentoonstelling van schilderijen die tijdens den oorlog in het museum “de lakenhal” bewaard zijn, October 1945 - 1946, no. 56 (wooded landscape only);
Eindhoven, Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, Nederlandse landschapsschilderkunst in de 17^e eeuw, 1948-1949, nos. 65-66.

This pair of paintings epitomizes the many qualities for which Salomon van Ruysdael has become so renowned as a landscape painter. What many consider the apex of the artist's career is his so-called 'tonal phase', which spans circa 1632-1640, and of which these pictures are prime examples. It was during this period that both Van Ruysdael and Jan van Goyen (lot 11) used a subtle palette of greys, greens, yellows, blues and browns to depict their landscapes, thereby creating a harmonious effect.

The restrained palette and sensitive treatment of the different textures of the water, trees and shore, as well as the subtle play of light, create quiet and still moments in time, brilliantly captured by the hand of a highly gifted artist. Rather than introducing a disquieting element, the animated staffage in both pictures serves not only to enliven the scenes but also to add to the calm and serene atmosphere. Although identifiable views are not unknown in Van Ruysdael’s oeuvre, his genius lies in his ability to reconstitute various motifs in many different ways, thereby creating wholly original compositions. The artist’s ability to execute landscape elements with admirable precision, his overall attention to quality and finesse, allow his best works to retain an immediacy and freshness that sets him apart from his contemporaries.