Lot 599: Salomon van Ruysdael (Naarden c. 1600-1670 Haarlem)

A river landscape with fishermen and a sportsman shooting duck oil on canvas 24 5/8 x 341/2 in. (62.5 x 87.7 cm.) PROVENANCE Acquired by Beriah Botfield (1807-1863) in Leiden, by 1848, by whom bequeathed to the Thynne family. LITERATURE B. Botfield, Catalogue of Pictures in the possession of Beriah Botfield Esq. at Norton Hall, London, 1848, p. 46, 'Duck Shooting'. B. Botfield, Catalogue of Pictures at Norton Hall, London, 1863, p. 35. NOTES Unpublished since its inclusion in Beriah Botfield's 1863 catalogue, this is an early treatment of Salomon van Ruysdael's favourite theme, datable on stylistic grounds to the early 1630s. He began to paint river scenes in or before 1631, in similar fashion to Jan van Goyen with whom he must have been in close contact. The monochromatic palette, made up predominantly of greens, greys, browns and blues is typical of his output at this time, as is the flickering application of paint in the trees (technically very close to Van Goyen), and the emphasis given to the reflections in the ruffled water. In these respects, as well as in the details, the present picture relates closely to a picture dated 1632 in the National Gallery, London. In both works, Ruysdael employs a strong right to left diagonal composition established by the wooded river bank and sailing vessels, which are positioned at intervals receding into the distance. Each picture features a fishing boat laying out or drawing in their nets, the floats of which can be seen in an arc on the water's surface in the left middleground, and, in the right foreground, a sportsman at the front of a punt, who is about to open fire on a duck. In the same vein, the present picture can be compared to another early river scene in the National Galleery, similarly dated by Stechow to circa 1632-3.