SALOMON VAN RUYSDAEL | River landscape with figures on a ferry

Pongs Collection, Düsseldorf;
Whence acquired by Dr Reuter, Düsseldorf;
Acquired from the above by the father of the present owner in the 1960s.

The canvas has a firm lining, the paint surface is relatively clean, and the varnish is slightly discoloured. Some of the underdrawing is visible, particularly in the lighter group of trees in the centre. Two small raised areas in the centre of the upper margin appear to have been caused by knocks to the reverse of the canvas, the largest 2 x 2 cm., and in raking light restoration is visible to two other small areas in the sky centre (2 x 2 cm.) and just right of centre (1 x 3 cm.). Also visible to the naked eye is retouching to a long network of tears in the left-hand side of the landscape, the extent of which is revealed by inspection under ultraviolet light which reveals the T-shaped network approx. 70 x 70 cm. This is part of a recent campaign of restoration which also comprises retouching to several vertical lines lower centre, the longest of which measures approx. 15 cm., and to another repaired tear in a horizontal line through the water lower right approx. 50 cm. long. There are further recent retouchings scattered throughout the sky including to the aforementioned areas, along with an older campaign of small scattered retouchings which mainly appear to address a degree of wear that has become visible, particularly through the clouds. Save for the T-shaped tear on the left, the trees, foreground and the boats and figures would appear to remain largely untouched. All intervention has been sensitively executed and there is no need for further intervention.
"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."

As yet unpublished and unrecorded, this river landscape likely dates to the 1630s or early 1640s. In his work of the later 1640s the artist moves away from the silvery and monochrome tonality seen in the present work, towards a more colourful palette. During Ruysdael’s tonalist period his works were characterised by an emphasis on soft, atmospheric conditions that he developed alongside his contemporary Jan van Goyen. The strong diagonal emphasis of the composition is also typical of the artist’s works at this date – as demonstrated in his river landscape signed and dated 1635, in the Louvre, Paris.¹ 1 W. Stechow, Salomon van Ruysdael, Berlin 1975, p. 117, cat. no. 325, reproduced pl. 10, fig. 15.