De Vlieger was one of the most important and influential Dutch marine painters. He was equally comfortable painting dramatic storms or stately naval parades, all of which he enlivened with small figures carefully situated within the pictorial context. He clearly knew the sea and the ships that sailed it: he accurately recorded the distinguishing features of the various types of vessels—from large navy ships to small fishing and transport boats—and set them convincingly in the water. But De Vlieger’s sensitivity to the atmospheric effects of water and sky along the North Sea as seen here truly separates him from most other marine painters, being unmatched in capturing the subtle ranges of grays and gray-blues found along coastal waters. Here the upright format of the painting, unusual for a marine, consists mostly of sky, with the upper dark clouds casting their shadows on the lower water’s edge, which sums up the composition. The almost monochrome painting is a prime example of so-called ‘tonalist’ landscape and marine painting in Dutch painting from the first half the 17th century with a highly reduced color palette, of which Jan van Goyen and Jan Porcellis were also notable representatives.
The painting has an extensive and distinctive provenance having been owned by the Russian novelist Ivan Turgenev before passing to a succession of European collections. And while it is rarely possible to trace works back to their original owners, it is always of interest when the chain of title goes back at least to the early 19th century. It is thus worth presenting here, as an example of such a chain of owners: Ivan Sergeyevich Turgenev (1818-83), Bourgival. His sale, Féral, Paris (April 20, 1878, lot 44), “Calme plat, de pêcheurs chargent dan leur bateau de paniers à poissons. Plusiers bateaux à voiles sillonnent la mer. Bon petit tableau signé en toutes lettres. Bois. Haut, 34 cent.; larg. 27 cent.” (FFR 550); Collection of Marquise Alphonse-Louis Pinart (1852-1911), Boulogne=Billancourt near Paris. By descent to Mrs. Civialle-Pinart (niece?). Her sale, Féral, Paris (May 15, 1911, lot 29), “L’esuaire. Dans deux barque amarrées à une estacade formée voguent au large du fleuve sous un ciel nuageux. On aperçoit une rive dans le lointain. Signé en toutes lettres dur une barque. Bois. Haut. 34 cent;.; larg. 27 cent.” With Matthey, Paris, from whom acquired by Galerie F. Kleinberger on November 24, 1911. With Galerie F. Kleinberger, Paris, inv. no 8930. Acquired from the above by Albert Lehmann (1840-1922) and Caroline Cornélie Lehmann, née Kulp (1849-1926), on December 2, 1912 for FFr. 5,000. Their sale at Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 3rd part (June 12-13, 1925, lot 293, illus.) (“la Rentrée des nasses — Une barque de pêche est amarrée, à droit, à l’un des pilots d’une estacade dur laquelle un homme est assis. Deux pêcheurs l’occupent, l’un, à l’ arrière, remonte une nasse sphérique, l’autre tient un havenet. Au fond, sous un vaste ciel où dérivent des nuages clairs, une embarcation à voiles et sa chaloupe.” Sold there for FFR. 21,500 [possibly 27,000 according to another source] to Frederik Johannes “Frits” Lugt (1884-1970) on behalf of a Dutch collector. Their sale, Mak van Waay, Amsterdam (November 15, 1976, lot 72, illus.). With Richard Green, London. From who acquired by Ferdinand III Mülens (1937-2021) Collection, Cologne, since 1977. Nagel Auktionen GmbH (November 8, 2023, Lot 759, illus.), sold there for 85,000 Euros (hammer). With Richard Green, London. Acquired from the above at TEFAF (March 9, 2024).
