Lot 1643 Dα

With a label to the back of the panel signed by the artist and with his red varnish seal. Also labelled by the firm “Fs. Smaelen” of Brussels, Koekkoek's panel supplier, and with a glued on cutting from an auction or inventory catalogue in French bearing a red varnish seal that reads “Jules de Brauwere / Expert / Bruxelles”.

B. C. Koekkoek was born in Holland but resided in Cleves on the Lower Rhine Region as of 1834. He was already awarded the epithet “Prince of Landscape Painters” during the 19th century, and his incredible success and influence were expressed in the number of his illustrious patrons, which included Tsar Alexander II of Russia, King Frederick William IV of Prussia and the Dutch King Willem II.
Throughout his life, Koekkoek derived the motifs for his works from the untouched, rolling hills of the Lower Rhine Region. Although many of his works depicted a realistic topography, many tend towards idealisation and elaborate composition.

His works generally utilise a light colour palette, and live from Koekkoek's perfect use of light. For example in the present, harmonically composed piece where convincing chiaroscuro effects play across the meadow with its grazing cows. The tall tree on the left sets a strong contrast to the brown foliage of the smaller tree behind the house on the right. Before the house we see a small waterfall opening into a stream where two men are shown fishing.

We would like to thank Dr. Guido de Werd for confirming the authenticity of this work. He will be including it in his upcoming catalogue raisonné. The work is listed with the Koekkoek archive under no. 55/30.