Barend Cornelis Koekkoek Dutch, 1803-1862

Taped to the mount along the upper edge. Remains of old glue along all edges, only visible on the reverse. Very slight paper discolouration along the upper left edge. Fresh colours. In good condition.
"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."

In 1845 King Willem II commissioned Barend Cornelis Koekkoek to make nine paintings depicting Luxembourg landscapes. The fact that the King chose Koekkoek to depict the most pleasing sites of his newly acquired territory speaks for the reputation the artist had achieved by then. The Dutch magazine 'Kunstkronijk' wrote that Koekkoek had accompanied Willem II on a tour through the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, taking the opportunity to make sketches in the open air. From these drawings, which he showed Willem II on 23 December 1845, the King chose nine subjects for the series of paintings. Six days later, on 29 December 1845, Koekkoek sent him a written confirmation with the prices for the nine landscapes he planned to paint, as well as a detailed description of their subjects and measurements. From the dates of the paintings we can deduce that Koekkoek painted the series in 1846-1848. After completion Koekkoek presented the nine paintings as a group to Willem II. The King showed himself extremely pleased with his acquisition, which he quite rightly regarded as one of the highlights in his large collection. The series was most probably exhibited as a sequence in the King's palace in The Hague. In August 1850, a year after the death of King Willem II, the collection was sold at auction in Amsterdam, including the nine Luxembourg landscapes, which came into the hands of different owners. The present lot is one of the few known watercolours Koekkoek made during his stay in Luxembourg and can be regarded as a highlight of his artistic oeuvre on paper.