Cornelis Springer

W. Laanstra, H. C. de Bruijn, and J. H. A. Ringeling, Cornelis Springer, Utrecht, 1984, illustrated p. 56, no. 46-1

During his lifetime, Cornelis Springer enjoyed an enormous reputation as a painter of townscapes.  As Johan Gram writes in his book Onze schilders van Pulchri Studio (1880), his paintings were so sought after that he had to draw up a waiting list, and the delay sometimes took as long as three years. Therefore, it is not surprising that his paintings fetched high prices.

Coming from a family of building contractors, Springer had a solid knowledge of architecture. His brother Hendrik, a professional architect, taught him the principles of architectural drawing and perspective.  At the age of eighteen, Springer became a student of Kaspar Karsen, one of the finest townscape painters of his time.  Following the example of his teacher, Springer painted mainly fantasized town views (capriccios) in the beginning of his career. The present work dates from these early years. 

The artist's passion for architecture remained a powerful inspiration throughout his career.  He  traveled throughout the country, making studies of Dutch towns, which turned into finished paintings in his Amsterdam studio.  The richly decorated facades of seventeenth century patrician houses, churches and town halls furnished him with every opportunity to display his unique painterly skills. Springer populated his town views with numerous figures, which add to the liveliness of his paintings.  His picturesque scenes are bathed in sunlight, use vivid colors and make the best possible use of the play of light and dark.