Josephus Augustus Knip

Sale Amsterdam, Christie's, 18 November 1985, lot 192;

A.M. ('Ton') van den Broek (1932-1995), Haarlem

The serenely atmospheric monochrome drawings and delicately colored watercolors of Italian views made, often on a large scale, by Josephus Augustus Knip in the early years of the 19th century are in many ways the ultimate definition of the reaction of northern artists of this period to Italy, its monuments and its unique light.  

At the age of 23, Knip set off on foot from his native Tilburg, bound for Paris, where he studied and worked for several years. On 1 January 1808, he was awarded the prestigious Prix de Rome, which committed him to two further years in Paris, followed by two in Rome. In fact, Knip went to Rome slightly earlier than planned, in November 1809, and remained there until September 1812. It is recorded that on his return to the Netherlands, Knip carried with him no fewer than 80 oil sketches and 490 other studies of French and Roman subjects, which were to provide him with the models for finished paintings and watercolors for the rest of his life.  

Excellent groups of the artist's depictions of Roman monuments and views were formerly in the collections of Saam and Lily Nijstad¹, and I.Q. van Regteren Altena (the latter group acquired in 2014 by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam²). 

Another view of Lake Nemi by Knip, inscribed in the same way, is in the Haags Gemeentemuseum (inv. T-21-1940).

1. Sold, Amsterdam, Sotheby's, 19 May 2004, lots 323-327

2. See In de ban van Italië, tekeningen uit een Amsterdamse verzameling, exh. cat., Amsterdams Historisch Museum, 1995, cats. 61-70; the group of 46 drawings and watercolors was exhibited at the Rijksmuseum, without catalogue, in 2015: Watercolours of Italy by J.A. Knip