Herman Saftleven (Rotterdam 1609 - Utrecht 1685)

Workshop of Herman Saftleven the Elder (Rotterdam 1609 - Utrecht 1685) Ice skating in front of the walls of the city of Utrecht oil on canvas (81 x 65 cm - framed 105 x 91 cm) The painting depicts a fascinating winter landscape, with a glimpse of a city located on the banks of a frozen river where numerous characters animate the canvas immortalized in their everyday life, heedless of the climatic rigor that surrounds them, thus showing us a snapshot of popular life of the seventeenth century. Precisely this is the city of Utrecht, with the famous Plompetoren, the high lookout tower that was part of the city's defenses in the Middle Ages (also known as the tower of thieves, as it was also used as a prison), near which we can see the De Vos tower, which no longer exists, while in the background we admire the tip of the Gothic church of St. James. Therefore, in addition to being a work of undeniable aesthetic and collected value, it is also an important historical document on the old appearance of one of the most important cities in the Netherlands, especially in the days of its great colonial power. Winter settings like ours reached their peak in the Dutch Golden Age, a real pictorial genre very attractive, sought after by art collectors of the time, as well as after almost four centuries, as well as after almost four centuries, also by lovers of Flemish painting of our days. Following in the wake of Pieter Brueghel the Elder, who introduced this pictorial genre in the third quarter of the sixteenth century, a large number of authors active between the late fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, created personal variations linked to the theme of the landscape immersed in the coldest season from time to time. Although based on a real vision, the view is revealed with an almost dreamlike setting, depicting a sort of fairy tale on canvas, invaded by the light coming from the horizon that floods the wide landscape with a very warm, orange tone, which contrasts with the idea of the cold winter. From the point of view of attribution, our canvas is attributable to the workshop of the Fleming Herman Saftleven, creator of river views with castles that made him one of the most famous Dutch artists of the seventeenth century. This is in fact a typical composition of the painter, executed with quality and expertise of details, and characterized by a pleasant chromatism, soft and delicate. A similar painting is now kept at the Gemaeldegalerie Alte Meister, Kassel, in Germany, dated 1646 (museum link: https://datenbank.museum-kassel.de/33910/), and our canvas, of similar quality, could likely be a version made by the author or one of his close followers. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The painting is sold complete with a pleasant golden frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and descriptive iconographic sheet. We handle and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. If you wish to see this or other works in person, we will be happy to welcome you in our new gallery in Riva del Garda, in Viale Giuseppe Canella 18. We are waiting for you! Contact us for any information or to arrange a visit, we will be happy to answer you. Follow us also on : https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/