Philips Wouwerman
Landscape with the Annunciation to the Shepherds
Oil on canvas (relined). 42.7 x 59.5 cm.
In this work, Wouwerman depicts the annunciation to the shepherds from the Gospel of Luke (2, 5-14) in a dark landscape brightened only by the light surrounding the angel, producing a dramatic contrast of light and darkness. Horses were Philips Wouwerman's trademark motif, and they once again form the focus of the composition here. The former certifications for this work from Walther Bernt of Munich and Max J. Friedländer are sadly now lost. Schumacher included this painting in his catalogue raisonné as no. B74.
Certificate
Formerly Max Friedländer. - Walther Bernt, Munich (both lost).
Provenance
Charles Bind, London 1832. - Sir John Charles Robinson, London. - Auctioned in Paris, 7.5.1868. - Marquis du Blaisel. - Auctioned in Paris, 16.3.1870, lot 138. - Charles Sedelmeyer. - Auctioned in Paris, 7.5.1907, lot t218. - H. van der Kaa, Den Haag. - Auctioned by Fred Muller Amsterdam, 2.-5.3.1948, lot 286. - Galerie Sanct Lucas, The Hague 1948. - Auctioned by Van Marle, de Sille, Baan, Rotterdam, 19.12.1956, lot 181. - Dr. Schäfer collection, Düsseldorf. - Christa Schäfer, Meerbusch 1970. - Lempertz auction 527, Cologne, 5.11.1972, lot 213.
Literature
John Smith: A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters, London 1842, vol. 1, no. 25. - Charles Sedelmeyer: Catalogue of the Rudolphe Kann Collection. Paris 1907, vol. 2, p. 212-213, illus. 218. - Cornelis Hofstede De Groot: Beschreibendes und Kritisches Verzeichnis der Werke der hervorragendsten Holländischen Maler des XVII. Jahrhunderts. Esslingen 1908, vol. 2, no. 25. - Kurt J. Müllenmeister: Meer und Land im Licht des 17. Jahrhunderts: Tierdarstellungen in Werken niederländischer Künstler. Bremen 1981, vol. 3 p. 104, illus. 534. - Birgit Schumacher: Philips Wouwerman. The Horse Painter of the Golden Age. Doornspijk 2006, vol. 1, p. 425. no. B74, pl. 580.
Exhibitions
Haagsche bezit, The Hague 1936/37, nr. 210.