- 202
Cornelis Springer Dutch, 1817-1891
Description
- Cornelis Springer
- a visit of bayliff dr. j. ten grootenhuys to the guild of archers in 1645, Amsterdam (Bezoek van de Schout Dr. J. ten Grootenhuys aan het Gilde der Handboogschutters in 1645)
- signed and dated 1864 l.l.
- oil on canvas
- 72 x 126,5 cm. (octagonal canvas)
Provenance
Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam 1862, 'Historische Gallery', no. 73
Hermanus Koekkoek Jr, London 1895
Collection J.C. van Hattum van Ellewoutsdijk, Scheveningen,1896
City of The Hague, Town hall, on loan from 1896-1901
By descent to the heirs van Hattum van Ellewoutsdijk, 1909
Sale The Hague (Van Marle Bignell), 28 April 1916
Literature
W. Laanstra, H.C. de Bruin, Dr. J.H.A. Ringeling, Cornelis Springer (1817-1891), Utrecht 1984, cat.no. 64-18, illustrated
Catalogue Note
The present lot was originally part of the so-called 'Historische Gallerij' (Historical Gallery) of the art society Arti et Amicitiae in Amsterdam. This collection, which was assembled in the early 1860's, consisted of 102 paintings which were executed by different members of the art society, each depicting an episode from Dutch history. No less than 75 different artists submitted a painting, including famous painters like Andreas Schelfhout, Jozef Israels and Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema.
The change of taste and the increased financial difficulties the art society encountered led the board to decide that the collection needed to be sold. This took place in 1895, when the gallery as a whole passed on to the London art dealer - and himself a painter - Hermanus Koekkoek Jr. The fact that the collection was sold to a foreign dealer aroused severe criticism in Holland, after which the collection returned to our country and was sold to the J.C. van Hattum van Ellewoutsdijk. He lent it to the city of The Hague, where it was exhibited in the town hall from 1896 till 1901. Five years later, following a dispute about the high costs of running the gallery, Van Hattum removed the paintings from the town hall to his house in Scheveningen, intending to exhibit them there. However, he died before this was accomplished and the paintings were divided under his heirs. Since then (1909) the collection got dispersed all over the world.
The Amsterdam born Cornelis Springer became a member of Arti et Amicitiae in 1844. He held important positions within the society, first a secretary (1861-1872), then as vice-president (1872-1874) and ultimately as president (1874-1877). In that sense he was one of the running forces within Arti et Amicitiae.
The present lot, undisputed one of the highlights in the Arti gallery, was rediscovered only recenty. It is a great example of Springer's painterly skills. This highly finished and wonderfully detailed canvas was painted at the height of his career. It consolidated Springer's position as Holland's leading painter of townscapes.