Frederik Marinus Kruseman

The canvas has been relined. There are a few lines of infilling to the craquelure within the snow and in the sky, notably directly above the castle, and a vertical line of old retouching in the sky to the upper left running directly out of the smoke plume (probably addressing an old stretcher mark). Apart from some very fine craquelure the paint surface is in good overall condition, clean and ready to hang. The colours are brighter and more luminous than they appear in the catalogue illustration. Held in a plaster moulded gilt frame.
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Frederik Marinus Kruseman grew up in Haarlem where he received his first lessons from Jan Reekers (1790-1858) and Nicolaas Johannes Roosenboom (1805-1880). The latter taught Kruseman the basics of landscape painting and - most likely - raised his fascination in winter scenes that make up about two thirds of his oeuvre.

In 1837, Kruseman travelled to Cleves to receive instructions from Barend Cornelis Koekkoek, one of the founding fathers of Dutch romantic landscape painting. From 1841 onwards, Kruseman spent most of his time in Brussels which was a centre of artistic dynamism in the nineteenth century and where many Dutch artists were working.

During his second stay in the Belgian capital (1856-1882) his art came into full fruition and it was in this period that he painted his most important pictures: highly finished, fairy-like, Arcadian winter landscapes populated with figures. His tree groups became increasingly more convincing and he introduced his well-known coral-like tree branches. The depth of his panoramic landscapes also became more marked. In 1880, he painted the present lot which is an excellent example of the superb, refined style and technique that characterize Kruseman's work and that brought him his greatest fame. Moreover this painting reflects the influence of  B.C. Koekkoek 's teaching, adapted by Kruseman to suit his own artistic ideals.

A handwritten label on the reverse in the artist's handwriting reads; Je soussigné déclare avoir peint le tableau ci contre original sans reproduction. Bruxelles 1880.

Mr. J.M.M. de Meere has kindly confirmed the authenticity of this lot.