ALEXANDRE CALAME | Torrent de montagne par orage, 1850

Frederik Muller & Cie., Amsterdam, 25th November 1903, lot 17
Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Cologne (1904-1926; inv. no. WRM 1244 (ex. 955a)
Galerie D. Heinemann, Munich, 1926
Galerie Hansen AG, Lucerne, 1927
Christie's Amsterdam, 26th October 1999, lot 85
Estate Asbjorn Lunde (purchased at the above sale)

Williamstown, Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Alpine views : Alexandre Calame and the Swiss landscape, 2006, no. 7
London, The National Gallery, Forrest, Rocks, Torrents Norwegian and Swiss Landscape Paintings from the Lunde Collection, 2011, no. 2
Newark, Newark Museum, The Rockies and The Alps, Bierstadt, Calame, and the Romance of the Mountains, 2018, no 21

Eugène Rambert, Alexandre Calame, sa vie et son oeuvre, Paris, 1884, p. 241
Verzeichnis der Gemälde des Wallraf-Richartz-Museums der Stadt Kö̈ln, Cologne 1914, p. 391, no. 955a
Valentina Anker, Alexandre Calame. Vie et oeuvre, catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre peint, Fribourg 1987, p. 392, no. 419, ill. 

The painting is in very good condition. The painting is lined and has been stretcher over a wooden stretcher. The picture plane is even with good tension. Both the ground and paint layer appear to be in very good condition, stable and well attached. Under UV illumination scattered small retouches are visible in the darker areas of the landscape. The surface is varnished.
"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."

This highly dramatic view is of the Aare River in the valley of Haslital, in the Canton of Berne. With their gushing mountain streams, dramatic clouds and steep peaks, paintings such as the present work contributed significantly to the imagery of the Alps that became predominant in 19^th century Europe. Switzerland’s longest river, the Aare makes its way to the Rhine, carving over one thousand meters of gorges through the limestone of the Haslital region. Whilst Calame approached the subjects of agitated torrents throughout his entire career, another three versions of this same subject are known to date: a study for the present work (Anker, cat. no. 420), Torrent de montagne par orage, 1854, (cat.no. 587) and a second version of the latter sold at Sotheby's Zurich in 2018.