Hans de Jode (The Hague, 1630 – Vienna, 1663)
Fantasy winter landscape with bridge and keep
Circa 1650
Oils on canvas (62 x 93, in frames 82 x 112)
The work is accompanied by an expertise from Dr. Fred G. Meijer (Amsterdam)
Full details of the work, and its pendant, at - link -
The celebration of winter was an extremely beloved and sought-after theme in Flemish landscape painting, representing a truly autonomous artistic vein for the cultured patronage of the 17th century.
As Professor Fred Meijer has confirmed, following his in-depth study, this is a typical painting by the Flemish painter Hans de Jode (The Hague, 1630 – Vienna, 1663), and it is a true rarity for collectors, as the painter's canvases are almost exclusively in public collections and are rarely found on the market.
In our case, the scene is permeated by that inimitable fairy-tale aura that made the master's works famous, a representation with an enchanted, romantic atmosphere, where small fantasy details and the magical winter atmosphere are exalted, characterized by rugged rocky landscapes with bridges, towers, and riverside towns, emphasized by highly accentuated luminosity.
There is a reduced color palette, with cool and warm tones skillfully juxtaposed; an almost unreal silence predominates in the painting, in which everything is enveloped in an almost unreal quietness, typical of his landscapes.
Born in The Hague, the artist had a eventful life, during which he resided for much of his life in Italy, in Rome and Venice, and finally in Vienna, working as a painter for the imperial court.
The scholar hypothesizes a temporal placement in De Jode's Italian period, presumably around 1650/1660, when the author stayed in Rome, where he came into contact with the works of Salvator Rosa, as evidenced by the influence of the latter that can be perceived in his more or less fantastic landscapes, characterized by a fluid and rapid brushstroke and an often diagonal compositional schema, with peculiar patches of trees and contrasted luminism.
For comparative purposes, we can illustrate some of the author's works below that show clear analogies with the composition under examination, including:
- Landscape with waterfall, 1657, Museo di Castelvecchio (Italy, Verona) https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/paesaggio-hans-de-jode-l-aia-1630-vienna-1663/iwFwgd3S58-HS
- Landscape with bathers, Musée Fabre (France, Montpellier) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jode_Paysage_aux_baigneurs.JP
- Mountain landscape with shepherds, 1660, Kromeriz Castle Museum (now National Gallery, Prague
- Landscape with river and tower, Christie's (Amsterdam) 2001-11-07, lot 28 https://rkd.nl/nl/explore/images/record?filters%5Bkunstenaar%5D=Jode%2C+Hans+de&query=&start..
- Landscape, Rome C. Sestieri Collection
- Landscape with bridge and cross, Valtice Castle, National Monument of the Czech Republic https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_de_Jode_-_Landscape_with_a_bridge_and_cross.JPG
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The painting is completed by a pleasant gilded wooden frame.
The work is sold with a certificate of guarantee and authenticity, with a descriptive iconographic sheet.
We handle and organize the transport of purchased works, both within Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers.
It is also possible to view the painting in our gallery in Riva del Garda, by appointment; we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works.
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