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

Hans de Jode (The Hague, 1630 – Vienna, 1663) Imaginary winter landscape with lake and city on the banks 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, in the context of Flemish landscape painting, an extremely loved and sought-after theme by the cultured clientele of the 17th century, representing a veritable autonomous artistic strand. As Professor Fred Meijer 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 rarity at a collector's level, as the painter's canvases are almost exclusively the prerogative of public collections and are rarely found on the market. In our case, the scene is permeated by that inimitable fairytale aura that made the works of the Flemish master famous, a representation with an enchanted, romantic atmosphere, where small details of fantasy and the magical winter atmosphere are exalted, 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 in De Jode's Italian period, presumably around 1650/1660, when the author stayed in Rome, where he came into contact with the works of Salvator Rosa, as documented by the influence of the latter that can be seen in his more or less fantastic landscapes, characterized by a fluid and fast brushstroke and a compositional scheme often diagonally cut, with bizarre patches of trees and a contrasting luminism. For comparative purposes, we can illustrate below 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 Riva del Garda gallery, 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. Also follow us on: https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/