Cornelis Springer Dutch, 1817-1891

J.D. Dreyer, Bremen (purchased on 24 February 1870)
Ignaz Ephrussi, Vienna
Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte der Hansestadt Lübeck (no. 6918)
Restituted to the heirs of Ignaz Ephrussi in 2004

Painted in 1870, at the height of his career, it is likely that the present work was commissioned by J.D. Dreyer, its first owner.

From the seventeenth century onwards, Dutch painting became distinguished for its detailed, picturesque town views. Originating in the work of Gerrit Berckheyde and Jan van der Heyden, the genre reached another level of perfection in the magnificently detailed pictures of Cornelis Springer. Springer enjoyed esteem both in Holland and abroad during his lifetime and often painted particular views on commission from wealthy patrons. His lively, picturesque town views were so much in demand that they were ordered two to three years in advance.

According to the sales records the artist kept, Dreyer purchased View of Lübeck Market on 24 February 1870 for the princely sum of 1,400 florints, an extraordinary amount taking into consideration that the average annual income at the time amounted to around 85 florints.

Lübeck – the former capital of the Hanseatic League of cities – was founded in the 12th century and prospered until the 16th century growing into one of the most important trading centres in Northern Europe. The old city consisted mainly of 15th- and 16th-century patrician residences, public monuments such as the church and famous Holstentor brick gate, and salt storehouses, with the town hall and market place, as the economic and social heart of the city, at its centre.   The Backstein Gotik  (red brick gothic) of Hanseatic cities such as Lübeck must surely have caught Springer’s imagination. As early as 1864 he had painted a view of the market place of  Bremen, and views of other German cities such as Ulm, Münster, Goslar and Braunschweig soon followed.

Springer, the son of the Amsterdam building contractor Willem Springer, had a solid knowledge of architecture. His eldest brother Hendrik, a professional architect, taught him architectural drawing and perspective. From this he profited throughout his career. As in the present work, Springer’s town views usually depict an immediately recognisable part of town, rendered with a fine eye for historic and architectural detail. Richly decorated facades in particular furnished him with opportunities to show off his painterly skills. He generally populated his works with many figures to bring the views alive, while the masterful interplay of sun and shade added depth and atmosphere.

The close attention to detail of the architecture, the many figures populating the street and the well considered play of light in View of Lübeck Market confirm Springer’s reputation as one of the most celebrated Dutch painters of his time.