Lot 1521 Dα

Cornelis Springer specialised early in townscapes and can be considered to be part of a long tradition of Netherlandish painting. The refined play of colour and light as well as the accurate depiction of places and people made them very popular and were much sought after. This relatively small painting dates from his early period and with its specific rendering of atmosphere can be related to works reproduced in Laastra´s book on pages 28, 29, and 30. Neither the town nor the Romanesque church with its distinctive Gothic gate have been identified to this day, but it is known that Springer used to combine motifs from different places in a painting.
We thank Mr. Jan de Meere for his help in cataloguing this painting.
Willem Laanstra will include the painting with the number 43-6 in the forthcoming catalogue raisonée on Cornelis Springer which will be published in 2017.