A panoramic landscape with a view on the Middle-Rhine with a castle

This characteristic important painting by Barend Cornelis Koekkoek was hitherto unknown.

A pivotal figure in the evolution of Dutch 19th Century painting, Barend Cornelis Koekkoek achieved international fame as one of the most important landscape painters of his generation. Born in Middelburg, he trained, just like his brothers, under his father, Johannes Hermanus Koekkoek (1778-1851) before joining the Amsterdam Rijksakademie to train with Jean Augustin Daiwaille (1786-1850). His first great success came in 1829 when he won the gold medal of the Amsterdam society Felix Meritis with Landscape with a Rainstorm Threatening, now in the Rijksmuseum. During his lifetime Barend Cornelis Koekkoek was highly acclaimed and received numerous awards and decorations. King Willem II of the Netherlands, King Friedrich-Wilhelm IV of Prussia and Czar Alexander II were among his patrons and he received a great many commissions to that end.

From 1830 onwards, Koekkoek undertook several journeys along the Rhine and the Ruhr from both The Netherlands and the old ducal city of Cleves where the artist and his wife had settled in 1834. These trips gave him the opportunity to get to know the landscapes and motives whilst drawing and painting, subsequently working out these studies in his studio.
Magnificent romantic landscapes form the core of Koekkoek's oeuvre and the present lot is an exceptionally fine example, capturing the essence of the natural world. This monumental panel shows a panoramic view on the Middle-Rhine, seen from a hill, with a castle in the centre. Cattle is drinking peacefully from a small stream which comes over a cascade from the forest to the right. Two cowherds are kneeling at the small stream refreshing themselves. The painting has the atmosphere of a late summer day. In the foreground the sunlight is coming from the right, through the woods, enlightening the foreground.
Characteristic for Koekkoek’s compositions is the second zone in the middle of the painting that is in the shadow. The riverscape in the distance is seen in a wonderful full sunlight. The colours of the trees with their leaves are still typical for Koekkoek’s early years. In the 1840s the trees became heavier and the colouring darker. Koekkoek realized depth and perspective in his compositions.

Koekkoek painted this work in 1841, just at a time when he became an internationally acclaimed landscape-painter. In the same year he published his book Herinneringen en Mededeelingen van eenen Landschapschilder, with his opinion on romantic landscape painting and he founded his own drawing-academy in Cleves, visited by many Dutch young landscape painters, the beginning of the so called “School of Cleves”.

We kindly thank Drs. Guido de Werd for his help in cataloguing the present lot. The painting will be included in Drs. Guido de Werd's forthcoming Catalogue Raisonné as: no. 41/73,5.

We are grateful to Christiaan Lucht for suggesting that the castle is likely partly inspired on castle Huis Bergh in 's-Heerenberg, The Netherlands.