Lot 19: Nico van Rijn (Dutch, 1887-1962)

Cornsheaves
signed '-N-v-Rijn-' (lower left)
oil on plywood
30 x 52 cm.
Painted circa 1915.

Laren, Singer Museum, 1974
Amsterdam, Galerie Mia Joosten, A treasure revealed. Nicolaas Petrus Quirinus van Rijn, 6-14 January 1990, no. 80

At the beginning of the 20th century, Laren was an important cultural centre. Artdealers and artcollectors came to see both paintings which had their roots in the Impressionist School of The Hague, as well as works from less traditional painters like Jan Sluijters, Piet Mondriaan and Leo Gestel. Nico van Rijn however, was, in commercial sense, not a big name yet. The artist was fascinated by monasticism. Nico's brother Willem, embarrassed by his brother's behaviour, advised him to live a celibate life and due to this advise Van Rijn contacted a few monasteries. He writes about this: "Therefore we went to see various abbeys, e.g. the Benedictines in Oosterhout. They were speaking French. My appearance made an impression, however, people thought me and my life were too extraordinary". The artist had such an excessive passion for painting, that he hardly went outside. He didn't want to sell his paintings and due tot this attitude, he lived most of his life in extreme poverty. (See: A treasure revealed. Recently discovered paintings by Nico van Rijn, Mia Joosten Galleries 1990). Food came from the nuns and to repay them, he gave paintings. Only the artcollector Sal Slijper, who also collected works of Piet Mondriaan, recognized the mastership of Van Rijn. He regurarly bought Van Rijn's paintings from the Dominican sisters.
Finally, the artist ended with this religious mania in an institute in Zundert. There he executed a series of sensible drawings. Leaving the institute in 1947 he lived for three months in the house of Sal Slijper. With the helping hand of local authorities he acquired a studio in Blaricum on the Heideweg, where he worked until the age of 75.

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