(Naarden 1600/3–1670 Haarlem)
A river estuary with figures pulling in their nets by a fort, wijdships at a footbridge and other vessels beyond,
signed lower right with initials and dated: SVR.1664,
oil on canvas, 67.3 x 88.8 cm, framed

Provenance:
Mrs Cyril Kenworthy, England;
Nevill Louis Cooper (1964–1936) Collection, Vernon Holme, Kent;
his sale, Christie’s, London, 12 April 1937, lot 38;
with Thomas Agnew and Sons, London;
with Eugene Slatter, London;
with Peter de Boer, Amsterdam (1954);
Private collection, Switzerland;
sale, Christie’s, London, 4 July 2012, lot 168;
where bought by the present owners

Literature:
W. Stechow, Salomon van Ruysdael, Eine Einführung in seine Kunst, Berlin 1975, p. 141, no. 470A

A second version of this composition, slightly smaller and also dated 1664, is in the Staatliche Gemäldegalerie, Dresden.

Walther Bernt writes about Salomon van Ruysdael: “His most magnificent works date from the period after 1645. The staffage figures, having grown in size, no longer merely appear as silhouettes, but have become more colourful; large houses, tall church spires, and fortresses draw the beholder’s gaze into the depth. A powerful black tone is used for outlines and shadows. Carefully studied white clouds float across a deep blue sky. Water has gained in importance; calm, wide streams, with compact clusters of tall trees on their banks, carry a fully occupied ferryboat. The open sea, with its steel-grey water and mannered little waves, is animated by a well-thought-out arrangement of sailing boats.”