(Amsterdam 1603–1677)
Winter landscape, monogrammed at lower right AVDN, oil on canvas, 97 x 109 cm, carved and gilded Louis XV frame

Provenance: sale, De Beuckelaer, Amsterdam, 16 Sept. 1739, lot 133; Coll. Baron Edmond de Beurnonville, Paris; the latter’s estate sale, Paris, 9 May 1881, lot 392 (sold for 3,000 francs); Frederick Muller, Amsterdam (c. 1885); J. L. Menke, Antwerp; Le Roy Gallery, Brussels, 1 June 1904, lot 52; Coll. Alphonse Kann, Paris; Benedict Collection, Berlin (1927); Van Diemen & Co., Berlin; auction, Paul Graupe, Berlin, 25 Jan. 1935, lot 40; auction, Paul Graupe, Berlin, 20 Oct. 1936, lot 33; private collection, USA; Richard Feigen Gallery, New York (1991); auction, Sotheby’s, London, 8 July 1992, lot 59; settlement between the owners and the Oppenheimer community of joint heirs (Van Diemen & Co) 2007.

Literature: G. Hoet and P. Terwesten, Catalogus of Namlyst van Schilderyen met derzelver pryzen, The Hague, vol. 1, p. 606, no. 133; A. Bredius, “Aernout van der Neer”, in: Oud Holland, XVIII, 1900, p. 81; C. Hofstede de Groot, Beschreibendes und kritisches Verzeichnis der Werke der hervorragendsten holländischen Maler des XVII. Jahrhunderts, vol. VII, 1923, p. 207, no. 177; W. Stechow, Dutch Landscape Painting of the Seventeenth Century, 1966, p. 204, under note 46,; M. Russell, Jan van de Cappelle, 1975, p. 88; F. Bachmann, Aert van der Neer, 1982, p. 143 (as lost); W. Schulz, Aert van der Neer, Doornspijk 2002, no. 91, pl. 20 and pl. 69.

Certificate: Dr. Wolfgang Schultz, 2003 – “The highlight of Van der Neer’s oeuvre” In the second quarter of the 17th Century, Netherlandish landscape painting not only benefited from new tonal colour values, but also expanded in terms of motifs. The novelties included moonlit scenes and winter landscapes, which were first and foremost developed by Van der Neer and came to enjoy great popularity. The present painting dates from the artist’s late period. It is characterized by a generous brushwork, strong colours, together with a dramatic expressiveness.