Pieter Mulier (Haarlem 1637 - Milano 1701)

Pieter Mulier, known as Tempesta (Haarlem, 1637 - Milan, 1701) Stormy Marina with Vessels Oil on canvas (73 x 97 cm - 101 X 130 cm) This evocative 17th-century coastal view rightly belongs to the production of Pieter Mulier, known as Tempesta (Haarlem, 1637 - Milan, 1701), a prominent exponent of 17th-century Flemish art, exhibiting with remarkable qualities the typical traits of his production, which led him to excel in this particular pictorial genre of seascapes with storms and turbulent seas. The composition is masterfully orchestrated: the gaze falls on the elegant sailing ship with sails swollen by the force of the wind, caught in the storm as it is near a high rocky promontory on which an ancient fortification stands. We see the skillful use of the pictorial material and light tones, applied with rapid touches to transmit a lively effect of movement, creating a truly shocking illusion of waves dragged to break against the rocks. Mulier was able to capture with mastery the dramatic force of the narration, where the looming rocky wall, the impetuous waves envelop the hulls of the ships and the large clouds chasing each other give the whole a sublime nuance. These themes, typical of the Baroque taste, were very successful during the seventeenth century because the taste that could derive from observing the power of the sea was much appreciated, as it was highly decorative and able to arouse the amazement of the observer. Although Pieter Mulier's training took place in his homeland in his father's workshop, which introduced him to depictions of seascapes, his stay in Italy, in Rome, from 1666 to 1670 will be fundamental, collaborating in particular with Gaspard Dughet. Also documented in Piacenza and Venice, his paintings appear in the major collections of the time. The work is of excellent quality and the lights that characterize the intermediate levels of all his production here are particularly intense and highlight the drama of the scene: similar works are kept in Italy (Burrasca, Rome, Doria Pamphili Gallery) and in foreign collections (Landscape in the storm, Dresden, Gemäldegalerie). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The painting is sold complete with a pleasant antique frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and descriptive iconographic sheet. We take care of and organize the transport of purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. Contact us for any information, we will be happy to answer you. Follow us also on : https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/