Jan van de Cappelle

With Martin H. Colnaghi, London, 1892;
Dr. Ed. Guinle, Casa Guinle, Avenida Rio Branco, Rio de Janeiro;
His sale, London, Christie's, 28 July 1926, lot 27, for 840 gns (to Morton);
Major-General Sir Harold A. Wernher, Bt. G.C.V.O.,T.D;
His posthumous sale, London, Christie's, 27 June 1975, lot 75, for 15,000 gns;
Anonymous sale ('The Property of a Gentleman'), London, Christie's, 10 December 1993, lot 18; 
Anonymous sale ('Property of the Executers of a Deceased's Estate'), London, Sotheby's, 3 December 1997, Lot 86;
There purchased by the present owner. 

London, Royal Academy, Works by the Old Masters (Winter Exhibition), January-March 1892, no. 63.

C. Hofstede de Groot, A Catalogue Raisonné..., vol. VII, London 1923, p. 188, cat. no 116;
W.R. Valentiner, 'Jan van de Cappelle', in the Art Quarterly, vol. IV, 1941, p. 296;
M. Russell, Jan van de Cappelle, Leigh-on-Sea 1975, p. 77, cat. no 116 (as 'an excellent picture').

The following condition report has been provided by Kirsten Younger of Kirsten Younger Paintings Restoration, 212-288-4370, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The painting is in good condition overall. The canvas is lined with an old glue lining and the original tacking margins have been trimmed. There is a small tear in the canvas on the right above the small sailboats and there is a patch over it on the back. The edges of the lining canvas are worn in a few spots and there is a small area of insect damage on the right vertical stretcher bar. The canvas is flat and stable. The paint layer is in good condition overall. The cloudy sky has a beautiful appearance overall with areas of thinness and numerous retouches throughout. The water and reflections of the boats appear to be in good condition overall with areas of thinness in the glazes on the high points of the canvas weave and broadly applied areas of retouching. The figures are well preserved overall with many fine details intact. Some details are strengthened and thinness in the blue shirt of the man with the net and in the brown pants of the figure with the bucket is retouched. Many fine details of the boats are well preserved with small touches of strengthening and there is retouching on the sails. The details of the wooden pier remain clearly legible but there are many fine retouchings on it. The signature appears to be in good condition overall under the thick varnish. The thick varnish is discolored. Under uv light, the pier, the figures, the boats and the dark areas of the water fluoresce opaque yellow, whereas the sky fluoresces a light cool color. The surface gloss is shiny with a small scuff at the left edge.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Jan van de Cappelle's rare marine compositions stand out as high points in the arch of Dutch Golden Age painting. This signed and dated example is a particularly evocative and successful example of the calm, expansive seascapes for which he is renowned. The view is from the water's edge, looking across shallows in which fishermen are unloading small rowing boats to the right, while in the center a group of sailing vessels are tied together whilst similarly being unloaded. At the left is an elevated dock with a group of onlookers conversing as a lone figure attempts to climb to shore.