ABRAHAM STORCK | A capriccio view of shipping in a Mediterranean harbour 

Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 6 June 2008, lot 50.

Abraham Storck trained and worked with his father, Jan Jansz. Storck (a fijnschilder painter), and his brother, Johannes, who was fifteen years his senior. Of the family of artists, Abraham was the most prolific and accomplished. His work was considerably influenced by fellow Amsterdam marine painters Ludolf Backhuysen and Jan Abrahamsz. Beerstraten.

The present painting depicts a capriccio view of shipping in a Mediterranean harbour. Storck is not recorded as ever having travelled to Italy, but his knowledge of its architecture and landmarks was likely enhanced by artistic contemporaries such as Jan Asselijn and Jan Weenix, who brought back detailed accounts of their travels by way of their paintings.