Adams Celebration Sale:

Eye to Eye with 19th Century Masters

Paintings from a Private Dutch collection

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Adams Amsterdam Auctions has recently been taken over by Odette van Ginkel and Benthe Tupker. The introduction of these two new managing partners, a renewed approach and the first official auction of a very special private collection, are all the more reasons to celebrate the re-launch of the Amsterdam auction house this autumn.

Adams is pleased to present 50 paintings and works on paper from a private collection. The auction features carefully selected Dutch masterpieces from the 19th and early 20th century, which create a coherent overview of the most relevant art movements and genres that dominated the country in this period - from Romanticism, The Hague and Larense School to Impressionism. The sale includes several pieces originating from the renowned Besselaar collection, which was composed with the help of art advisers such as Simon Levie and Leslie Smith.

The Dutch Romantic period is represented by, amongst others, a monumental winter scene by Wouterus Verschuur, three enchanting Dutch landscapes by Charles Leickert, a winterscape with skaters by Fredrik Marinus Kruseman, and a summer street scene by Willem Koekkoek. Each of these outstanding works is a reflection of 19th century revivalism, expressed by the increase in popularity of typically Dutch landscapes, cityscapes and marine paintings in the spirit of the Dutch 17th century. Romantic artists created well-thought-out compositions which nonetheless were also meant to strike an emotional chord with the viewer. 

As a reaction to Romanticism, the Hague School emerges. Inspired by the Barbizon School, an initiative set up by a number of French artists who gathered in Barbizon, The Hague School can be seen as a Dutch expression of Realism. In contrast to the Romantics, realist painters strove for depictions of their surroundings and the weather conditions as they were.

Their works, painted en plein air, were not idealised, but not utterly realistic either as the focus was mainly placed on a truthful representation of light and atmosphere. The painting style of The Hague School was characterised by the use of clear and rough brushstrokes, natural shades of grey, brown, green and blue, and low colour saturation. Exemplary of this style are the large landscapes by Jan Willem van Borselen, typical works by Bernardus Johannes Blommers, an impressive winter landscape by Louis Apol, and a magnificent church interior of the St. John's Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch by the master of the genre - Johannes Bosboom. 

The emphasis placed by the representatives of The Hague School on capturing the moment was translated by the second generation of the movement into a form of Impressionism. The monumental painting of the Spuistraat in The Hague by Floris Arntzenius serves as a perfect illustration of this transformation. Another good example is the Carriage in the streets of Voorburg painted in 1889 by Willem Bastiaan Tholen. Although the Dutch Impressionists did not steer clear of landscape painting, they certainly favoured urban life as a subject. Cafés, bars, shopping streets, and the world of haute couture became the most prominent themes. Depictions of the cultural elite such as the actress Greta Lobo-Braakensiek, painted as Eliza Doolittle by Isaac Israels, are also topical for this fascinating period in Dutch art. 

An unquestionable highlight of the collection is the early work by Piet Mondriaan, which marks the transition into Modernism. Painted around 1890, Farm interior with hearth in the Achterhoek is characterised by short brushstrokes and dynamic lines. 

The auction presents a rare opportunity to stand - and see - eye to eye with 19th century masters and their followers.

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

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Viewing Days (free entrance): 

8 October 2022 (10:00-17:00)

9 October 2022 (10:00-16:00)

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Live + Online Auction:

9 October at 20:00

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Location Viewing Days + Auction:

Looiersgracht 60, 1016 VT Amsterdam

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Accessibility:

Public Transport: trams 1, 2, 5 to Leidseplein or trams 4, 9, 14, 16, 24 to Spui

Parking is accessible in the nearby streets or at the Q-Park Europarking on Marnixstraat 250 (5 minutes walking distance).

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Would you like to know more about this auction?

Send us an email: mail@adamsamsterdam.com

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