Frederik Marinus Kruseman Dutch, 1816-1882

The panel is straight. Some retouches along the left edge due to frame abrasion. There is a very minor retouch centrally in the right part of the sky. Otherwise this work is in good condition. This work could benefit from cleaning.
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Frederik Marinus Kruseman came from an important family of artists. He was the cousin of both Cornelis Kruseman and Jan Adam Kruseman. He grew up in Haarlem, where he received his first painting lessons from Nicolaas Johannes Roosenboom (1805-1880), pupil and son-in-law of Andreas Schelfhout, who occasionally visited the studio. Roosenboom taught Kruseman the rudiments of landscape painting and most certainly also raised his interest in winter scenes.

In 1837 Kruseman travelled to Cleves and became heavily influenced by Barend Cornelis Koekkoek, who had settled there in 1834.  Koekkoek, one of the founding fathers of Dutch Romantic landscape painting, was to have a lasting influence on both his subject matter and style. From him Kruseman adopted his superb technique and secure handling of paint.  

After this journey Kruseman painted his most important pictures: highly finished, fairy-like, Arcadian winter landscapes, populated with many figures. The delicately painted trees with their coral-shaped twigs are a recurrent and highly recognisable element in Kruseman's paintings as the present lot illustates.

According to Mr. J.M.M. de Meere the present lot was executed in the 1850's. Mr. de Meere has kindly confirmed the authenticity on the bases of photographs.