Aelbert Meijeringh en Abraham Storck, Gezicht op 's Lands Zeemagazijn aan de IJgracht in Amsterdam. 1685 (...?)

English and Nederlands

Gezicht op 's Lands Zeemagazijn aan de IJgracht in Amsterdam in de winter, op de achtergrond de Oosterkerk (View of the 's Lands Zeemagazijn in Amsterdam in winter; in the background the Oosterkerk) door Albert Meijerinch en Abraham Storck. De figuren zijn zeer waarschijnlijk van Storck.

Within Aelbert Meyeringh's thunderous icy landscape, the compactly frozen Nieuwevaart streches powerfully through this striking Amsterdam skating scene. The classical composition of the painting supports an elegant balance of linear structures aligned on the icy quays; to the right of the picture, the sailing boat moored at low tide and bound by ice, in the distance the Oostkerck, built by Daniel Stalpaërt between 1669-1671 and centrally, the famous naval arms and ammunition warehouse, the 'Admiraliteits Zeemagazijn' built in 1656 and occupied since 1973 by the Scheepvaart Museum, Amsterdam's National Maritime Museum. Further towards the left, numerous graceful masts strech upwards into the dark sky. Although undated, the View of the 's Lands Zeemagazijn in Winter alludes to a hostile chill period in history known as the Little Ice Age, which froze the European Continent between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries.

In contrast to the motionless boats and buildings, enegetic figures socialise on the ice, conversing and playing colf, sledging, skating in groups and even colliding on occasion, as can be seen from the two figures in the lower left, one of whom has lost his hat in the tumble. Each person in the scene expresses some notion of character, activity and motivation. In the centre of the canal, four figures glide in parallel, while a little further to the left, a small figure of a man appears to stand still, as if gingerly ascertaining his next slippery and uncertain step forward, as he steadies himself with a stick. Towards the far left of the scene, three men strain to move a heavily-laden sled, as one pushes and two others pull, the ropes become taut and figures hunch forwards, dragging their cargo.

These figures, previously attributed to Jacobus Storck are in fact by the hand of his younger brother Abraham, who is considered to be the more accomplished painter and superior draughtsman. Abraham Storck's oeuvre consist in the main of architectural and maritime scenes containing figures. Winter landscapes by Aelbert Meyeringh are extremely rare although records illustrate one other, View of the Haarlemmer Poort at Amsterdam.

Olieverf op doek. 61 x 85 cm, 24 x 33.5 in. Gesigneerd en resten van datering rechtsonder: A. Meyer ... fec... An. 16...

Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie (RKD, 0000279028)

Provenance

Probably William Clutterbuck, Eastlington, Gloucestershire or his son Richard Clutterbuck, circa 1700, thence by descent to the previous owner.

Private possession

Literature

• Dutch and Flemish old Master Paintings by Johnny Van Haeften, London. 2009

Bron: Do Smit