Jacobus van der Stok Dutch, 1794-1864

In his time Jacobus van der Stok was an important Dutch painter of winter landscapes with skaters, of which the present lot is a very fine example. In the first half of the 19th century, Schelfhout as well as Van der Stok introduced winter landscapes as a new speciality. This beautifully painted ice scene shows a frozen waterway with numerous skaters enjoying themselves on the black, glassy ice. The lively, masterfully rendered figures are set in a typically Dutch landscape with a low horizon. One of the most impressive aspects of this winter landscape is undoubtedly the superb treatment of the ice, which shows a striking resemblance to the ice scenes of his contemporary Andreas Schelfhout. The scratches, tears and reflections have been depicted with great natural quality, setting the example for a whole generation of painters who specialised in winter landscapes with skaters on the ice.