Stormy Sea with Ships
Oil on canvas
73 x 96 cm - Framed 91 x 115 cm.
Dorotheum Vienna, Old Master Paintings, 15.12.2020, lot 152, estimate €10,000-15,000 (link)
Lempertz Cologne, Paintings and Drawings 15th - 19th C., lot 1030, estimate €12,000-16,000 (link)
Full details of the work (CLICK HERE)
The evocative seascape under examination depicts a large galleon attempting to maintain its course with partially lowered sails, despite the high waves of the storm it has encountered. In the distance, two other vessels, part of the same convoy, are also at the mercy of the crashing waves.
The work exhibits a pictorial style that allows it to be attributed to Jan Porcellis (Ghent c. 1584 - 1632 Zoeterwoude-Dorp), a painter of the Dutch Golden Age specializing in seascapes, and considered a precursor of this genre.
Among the various types of seascapes, a genre highly popular and appreciated in 17th-century Dutch painting, is the depiction of the open sea in a storm, where artists aimed to highlight humanity's vulnerability in the face of nature's power. It is precisely the human effort to dominate the elements that forms the central theme of our painting.
Our seascape is typical of the master, with its classic compositional approach that made him highly regarded both at home and abroad. The emphasis is on the atmospheric effects of the sky, clouds, air, and water, rather than on the sailing ships, with dark clouds to the left enhancing the atmospheric effect.
Porcellis's contribution to Dutch art also lies in his emphasis on the effects of light. The composition is enveloped in strong luminosity, with a cloud-laden sky from which gleams of light emanate, reflecting on the water and illuminating the foamy waves, thus highlighting the painting's three-dimensionality. Strong contrasts of light and shadow dominate the image, and the color palette is reduced to a few essential colors.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
The work is sold complete with a pleasant antique frame and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet.
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