Cornelis Springer Dutch, 1817-1891

Van Pappelendam and Schouten, Amsterdam, bought directly from the artist on 26 June 1872 for 750 Dutch Guilders
Sale London, 28 November 1957, lot 178
The Hague, Kunsthandel P.A. Scheen, 1958
Collection D.R. Dooyes,
's-Graveland
Sale Amsterdam (Sotheby Mak van Waay), 18 February 1974, lot 75
Private collection, The Netherlands

Pieter A. Scheen, Lexicon Nederlandse Beeldende Kunstenaars 1750-1950, The Hague 1970, illustration 206
W. Laanstra, H.C. de Bruin, Dr. J.H.A. Ringeling, Cornelis Springer (1817-1891), Utrecht 1984, no. 72-6, illustrated in colour on p. 176
W. Laanstra, Cornelis Springer. Geschilderde steden, Amsterdam 1994, p. 136 (preparatory sketch)

Up to this day, Cornelis Springer remains unchallenged as the first and foremost Dutch painter of townscapes. Born in a family of carpenters and building contractors, he was gifted with a solid knowledge of architecture. His elder brother Hendrik Springer, a professional architect, taught him the principles of architectural drawing and perspective, from which he benefited his entire career. After completing his studies at the Amsterdam Academy in 1835, Springer became a pupil of Kasparus Karsen, a well known painter of town views. Contrary to his teacher Karsen, who painted fantasised townscapes (so-called capriccio's), Springer strove for topographical accurate views, discovering that these were much more in demand. Although Springer didn't eschew to embellish the arrangement of his town views, they reflect the actual situation fairly accurately, portraying life in a Dutch town in an imaginative way. 

As a rule, Springer first studied the situation on the spot, after which he drew a preparatory sketch, usually on the size of the painting (see illustration). After this he turned his sketches into finished paintings in his Amsterdam studio. Springer worked in a painstakingly precise manner, which resulted in an incredible wealth of detail - every single brick can be seen. He usually focussed his attention on a central part of a town, which he depicted with a fine eye for historical detail. The richly decorated gabled houses furnished him with a unique opportunity to display his painterly skills. Springer populated his views with many figures, which adds to the liveliness of his pictures. He bathes the scene in a soft, glowing sunlight. The masterful distribution of sunlit and shaded areas results in a great depth.

The present lot dates from the year 1872, when Springer painted at least five views of Bolsward. We can safely assume that he stayed in the town for a long period, enchanted by the beauty of the houses and the town hall (here seen in the back). In 1871-1872 he also worked in Workum, Makkum and Franeker, indicating that he must have been travelling around in the province of Friesland. Several years later he visited Bolsward two more times, in 1881 and 1887.

A label on the reverse in the artist's handwriting reads: De ondergetekende verklaart dat deze schildering voorstellende Gezicht achter het Stadhuis te Bolsward, Prov' Friesland, door hem is vervaardigd. Amsterdam 24 Juny 1872 C. Springer

Onderschrift tekening: Sketch in black chalk, dated 3 November 1871, 46 x 56 cm, collection Fries Museum, Leeuwarden (from W. Laanstra, Cornelis Springer. Geschilderde steden, Amsterdam 1994, p. 136)