Lot 1226: Paulus Constantijn la Fargue (The Hague 1729-1782)

The Dam and the Town Hall, Amsterdam, with horses and sledges by the Waag oil on panel 23.7 x 31.8 cm. (9 1/3 x 121/2 in.). PROVENANCE G. or C. de H., Schiedam; C.F. Roos & Co., Amsterdam, 17-18 November 1908, lot 39, as Isaak Ouwater, 'Le "Dam" … Amsterdam. Tr‚s curieuse vue sur la place publique dite le "Dam". Dans la partie droite, l'‚l‚gant bƒtiment des Poids-publics et derriŠre celui-ci, partiellement masqu‚ par lui, le c‚lŠbre H“tel-de-ville. Dans l'autre partie, l'espace libre de la place, ‚toff‚e de plusieurs traineaux charg‚s de marchandise et de diff‚rentes curieuses petites figures; sur sa gauche, le palais de Commandant de ville, et dans le fond, la trou‚e de la rue conduisant au Rokin. Bois - Hauteur 24 cm. Largeur 32 cm. (sold 340 florins). W.J.R. Dreesmann, Amsterdam; Frederik Muller & Cie., Amsterdam, 22 March 1960, lot 60, as Isaak Ouwater (to De Geus van den Heuvel). B. De Geus van den Heuvel, Nieuwersluis; Mak van Waay, Amsterdam, 26 April 1976, lot 99, as Isaak Ouwater (to Dreesmann). Dr Anton C.R. Dreesmann (inventory no. A-19). LITERATURE Verzameling Amsterdam W.J.R. Dreesmann, vol.III, Amsterdam, 1951, p. 765, as Isaak Ouwater. M. van Waay and H.S. Nienhuis, Verzameling B. De Geus van den Heuvel, Nieuwersluis, Amsterdam, 1963, I, p. 67, no. 99; II, fig. 99, as Isaak Ouwater. C. Dumas, Haagse Stadsgezichten 1550-1800 Topografische schilderijen van het Haags Historisch Museum, Zwolle, 1991, p. 567, note 15. EXHIBITION Laren N.H., Singer Museum, Keuze uit de collectie B. de Geus van den Heuvel, 1964, no. 10, as Isaak Ouwater. NOTES The artist, who was trained as a painter of room decorations, was mostly active in The Hague, although he is known to have painted views of Delft, Leyden, Haarlem, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The influence of Jan van der Heyden is readily apparent in his work, of which the present picture is a characteristic example, with its topographical reliability, lively colours and finely rendered staffage. The Waag, or weigh-house, on the Dam (for which see lot 1225), was the first and oldest weigh-house of Amsterdam. Constructed between 1560-65, it was built of blue freestone. Seven scales hanging inside the outer doors were in use with a smaller one inside the building for fine and expensive merchandise. It was demolished in 1808 on the instructions of King Louis, who wished to clear the view from the Town Hall (see lot 1205) (see A.J. van der Aa, Aardrijkskundig woordenboek der Nederlanden, Gorinchem, 1839, I, p. 182). A signed drawing of 1778 of the same subject is in the municipal archives, Amsterdam (see illustration).