A pair of rare and impressive Dutch tile pictures depicting a Dutch fleet tile factory on the Delftschevaart at Rotterdam under the management of Hendrik Schut and Hester Schut-de Meijer, by Cornelis Boumeester, circa 1700

each finely painted in blue with a large battle ship in the foreground with its fleet in the background, comprising 198 tiles, restorations and chips

By repute:
The tile panels were probably produced for a house at the Veldstraat, Gent, Belgium, possibly Hotel d'Hane Steenhuyse;

The pendants were moved to Chateau Ysebrant de Lendonck, Merelbeke, Belgium, where they were merged to one tile picture, 19th century - 1973;

present owner, when the chateau was demolished in 1973.

A. Hoynck van Papendrecht, De Rotterdamsche Plateel- en Tegelbakkers en hun Product, 1590-851, bijdrage tot de geschiedenis der oude Noord-Nederlansche majolica, Rotterdam, 1920, pp. 99-113. 

 

Various tiles have damages due to the former removals (twice). All broken tiles are re-stuck, partly re-painted and with traces of old glue residue. Some parts and cracks restored with plaster. Overall with minor surface scratching, chips and some imperfections to the glaze. Few tiles with fine craquelé to the glaze. All tiles are original and there are no later tiles. The reverse of the tiles are grind and with losses due to removal from original location, the edges also grind and some tiles therefore slightly reduced in size. The tile pictures as shown in the catalogue are, although the ships are perfect centred in the middle, possibly reduced in height to fit the second or even the first location. Unfortunately by the previous owners' ignorance, the tiles of the tile picture shown on the image in the catalogue are not all in the correct order. We changed the sequence to the best of our ability. It is possible that a few tiles depicting air or sea are still not in the right order, this is fortunately hardly noticeable. These extremely rare tile pictures would benefit from professional restoration. Considering age and removal from the original location the tile pictures are in reasonably good condition. Highly recommendable pair.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

THE SUBJECT

Although both tile pictures depict a Dutch war vessel in the foreground with its fleet in the background, it is not certain which event is presented. One could presume that they depict "The Glorious Crossing" by William III in 1688. As a Protestant William III, Stadholder in Holland since 1672, wanted his Catholic father-in-law Jacob King of England to step down from the throne. Therefore he organized a fleet of 53 men-of-war and 400 freighters, with which he performed his invasion in November 1688, departing from Hellevoetsluis. Jacob offered no perceivable resistance and fled to France. William's wife, Jacob's daughter Mary, was brought over to England and they were crowned king and queen of England in 1689.

William hired many English soldiers for his army and had the ships carry a flag that was neither Dutch nor British. On the painting we see white flags and flags with a peculiar design consisting of horizontal, vertical and diagonal crosses, almost 'English-like', shaped as foliate branches. This could also be a reference to the Catholic Cross of Burgundy, used at that time by the Spanish as a naval ensign and which had a white field and diagonal cross.

 

CORNELIS BOUMEESTER

The draughtsman and painter Cornelis Boumeester (1652-1733) is known for his tile pictures of seascapes and coastal views which he painted in majolica or faience. He started his career at the tile factory of Jacobus de Colonia at the Delftschevaart in Rotterdam, in the seventies of the 17^th century. He was appointed head of the tile-craftsman there in the years 1693 and 1694.
The tile factory came into possession of Jacobus de Colonia, by marrying for the second time in 1660. De Colonia, a well-to-do former apothecary, invested significant sums of money into the business. Together with the skilled professional Boumeester he was able to raise the range and quality of the tile production to a very high standard. At the tile factory customers could order ordinary tiles, which were produced in thousands at a time, but tile-makers such as Boumeester were also able to supply tile pictures on a field of 12, 20, 36 or as in this case a pair of monumental ones. From 1689 on the factory was managed by Hendirk Schut (d. 1709) and after 1709 by one's widow Hester Schut-de Meijer (d. 1720).
Boumeester's work, which he produced at the end of the 17^th century and the first quarter of the 18^th century, was inspired by the marine painters Willem van de Velde the Elder (1611-1693) and his son Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707). Like father and son Van de Velde, Boumeester strived for executing the vessels with great detail and the utmost accuracy. In contrast he was able to suggest a cloudy sky with only a few strokes of a broader brush.

OTHER TILE PICTURES BY BOUMEESTER

This pair of tile pictures, is known to be one of the largest being executed by Boumeester. As Boumeester had the habit of signing his work, we are now able to attribute most of his work.
For example, a comparable large tile picture by his hand remains at the Collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, "Seeview of a Herringvleet", comprising 180 tiles. The picture has been signed at the bottom C. BOUMEESTER, just like one of the pictures sold within these rooms. Until the end of the 19^th century the Rijksmusem tile picture was situated in a house in a little village called De Rijp, in North Holland, where it was part of a room decorated entirely with tiles. The panel could very well have been commissioned by a ship-owner or sea captain, as many men from the village of De Rijp sailed on ocean-going vessels.
A second tile picture remains at the collection of the Lambert van Meerten Museum Delft depicting a sea view of "The Battle of la Hogue", comprising 165 tiles. The picture has an identical signature situated at the lower right corner. Unfortunately it is not know for which house or owner this picture was commissioned.
Other smaller tile pictures are known to be in various other museum collections around Holland and Europe, for example at The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The Museum of History in Rotterdam, The Maritiem Museum in Rotterdam,  Chateau de Rambouillet in Rambouillet and Palace Saldanha in Lisbon.