SPRINGER; CORNELIS
1817 Amsterdam - 1891 Hilversum

Sint Maartenskerk in Zaltbommel. Oil on wood. 61 x 50cm. Signed and dated lower left: C. Springer 1867. Framed.

Verso:
On the panel handwritten confirmation of the artist with artist's signet and dating October 15; 1867.

Certificate:
Willem Laanstra; August 08; 2015.
The present work will be registered under no.s 67-11 in the catalogue raisonn?of Springer which will be published in 2017.

Provenance:
- Art trade C.J. Nieuwenhuijs; London; 1867; acquired directly from the artist
- Since the 1920s: private collection; Rhineland.

Springer sold the present work for 600 Dutch guilders to the London art trade Nieuwenhuijs in 1867. This is an enormous sum; because a normal worker earned about one guilder per day back then. Morevover; Laanstra mentions in his assessment that the painter was able to sell only one other work for a higher price in the same year. This was the view of the historic city market in Brunswig which is by far larger than the present painting. Merely these sums show the importance which Springer attributed to the view of Zaltbommel and even his contemporaries considered his art to be of highest importance.

In the late 50s and early 60s of the 19th century Springer travelled through the area of today's Netherlands and its surroundings searching for picturesque motifs; just like many other artists of his day. He was particularly fascinated by old Gothic buildings and streets views. By depicting these motifs Springer; who was an acribic drawer; was able to show his entire skills. This includes the depiction of perspectives and detailed (brick) walls. On site he made small sketches with a pen or a pencil and transformed them into carcoal drawings later in his atelier. These charcoal drawings are the basis for his later paintings which were mainly commissional works for his various customers; collectors and dealers.

As Laanstra points out the history of the present panel is extraordinary well documented. Besides the exact dates of his visit to Zaltbommel (September 1859) one can also find the pencil sketch as well as the charcoal drawing for this street view in the town museum of Zaltbommel. Springer created a total of 14 panels or watercolours following the sketch and the charcoal drawing. The most valuable of these paintings is the present panel from 1867 which was a commissional work for the London dealer Nieuwenhuijs. Verso he authenticated it with his artist's signet as well as his signature.Art trade; Van Ham.