Hans de Jode (L'Aia, 1630 – Vienna, 1663)

Hans de Jode (The Hague, 1630 – Vienna, 1663) Fantasy winter landscape with bridge and tower Circa 1650 Oil on canvas (62 x 93, in frame 82 x 112) The work is accompanied by an expertise by Dr. Fred G. Meijer (Amsterdam) Full details of the work, and its pendant, on - link - The celebration of winter has been, within Flemish landscape painting, an extremely loved and sought-after theme by the cultured patrons of the 17th century, representing a true autonomous artistic trend. As Professor Fred Meijer has confirmed, following his in-depth study, this is a typical painting by the Flemish painter Hans de Jode (The Hague, 1630 – Vienna, 1663) and constitutes a true collector's rarity, as the painter's canvases are almost exclusively the preserve of public collections and are rarely available on the market. In our case, the scene is permeated by that inimitable fairy-tale aura that made the Flemish master's works famous, a representation with an enchanted, romantic atmosphere, where small details of fantasy and the magical winter atmosphere are enhanced, characterized by rough rocky landscapes with bridges, towers and cities on the banks, emphasized by a very accentuated luminosity. There is a reduced chromatic palette, with cold and warm tones skillfully combined; an almost unreal silence predominates in the painting, in which everything is enveloped in an almost unreal quiet, typical of his landscapes. Born in The Hague, the artist had an eventful life, which saw him stay for most of his life in Italy, in Rome and Venice, and finally in Vienna, working as a painter of the imperial court. The scholar hypothesizes a temporal placement to the Italian period of De Jode, presumably around 1650/1660, when the author stayed in Rome, where he came into contact with the works of Salvator Rosa, as evidenced by the influence that the latter is perceived in his more or less fantastic landscapes, characterized by a fluid and fast brushstroke and a compositional scheme often diagonal, with bizarre patches of trees and a contrasting luminism. For comparative purposes, we can then illustrate some works by the author that show evident analogy with the composition under examination, including: - Landscape with waterfall, 1657, Museo di Castelvecchio (Italy, Verona) https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/paesaggio-hans-de-jode-l-aia-1630-vienna-1663/iwFwgd3S58-HS - Landscape with bathers, Museo Fabre (France, Montpellier) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jode_Paysage_aux_baigneurs.JP - Mountain landscape with shepherds, 1660, Kromeriz Castle Museum (now National Gallery, Prague - Landscape with river and tower, Christie's (Amsterdam) 2001-11-07, lot 28 https://rkd.nl/nl/explore/images/record?filters%5Bkunstenaar%5D=Jode%2C+Hans+de&query=&start.. - Landscape, Rome C. Sestieri Collection - Landscape with bridge and cross, Valtice Castle, National monument of the Czech Republic https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_de_Jode_-_Landscape_with_a_bridge_and_cross.JPG ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The painting is completed by a pleasant gilded wooden frame. The work is sold with a certificate of guarantee and authenticity, with a descriptive iconographic sheet. We take care of and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to see the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda, by appointment; we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works. Contact us, without obligation, to receive any other information. Follow us also on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/