Nicolaas Johannes Roosenboom

MEASUREMENTS 100 by 127 cm. DESCRIPTION signed l.r. oil on canvas PROVENANCE Private collection, United KingdomSale London, 30 November 1984, lot 6Sale London (Christie's) 21 June 1985, lot 11Private collection, United StatesSale London (Christie's), 6 April 2000, lot 13Private collection, Canada CATALOGUE NOTE Of all the pupils of Andreas Schelfhout, Nicholaas JohannesRoosenboom proved to be by far the most talented. Like his master,his strength lay in picturesque winter landscapes, of which thepresent lot is an impressive example. In the first half of the19th century Schelfhout had introduced the wintry scenesas a new genre. Originally meant as a companion piece to the summerversion, Schelfhout gave the initial impetus to treat them as anindependent motif. His pupil took up on this, sensing that thedemand for winter scenes was greater than for summer landscapes. Inaddition, winter scenes that were topographically interestingproved very popular. The current lot is an excellent example ofthis.In this monumental depiction of skaters on the frozen river IJ nearAmsterdam, one can see how Roosenboom was influenced by his famousmaster. The presence of horses and dogs on the glittering ice canbe traced back to Schelfhout's love of staffage with these animals.The scene is magnificently decorated with numerous figures, sleighsand boats, all executed with meticulous and colourful details. Inthe depiction of the ice Roosenboom shows himself worthy of histeacher: the scratches, tears, floes and reflections have all beendepicted loosely and apparently effortless with great naturalquality.Roosenboom's originality however stands out by painting this sceneagainst the majestic backdrop of the typically gabled houses ofAmsterdam. In front and to the left of them, huge three-masterswith their sails lowered lie frozen in the ice. The tower of theWesterkerk rises proudly above the horizon, under the pinkish glowof an afternoon sky. This monumental painting can well beconsidered one of his very best winter landscapes ever. This workcould be dated 1846-1847, when Roosenboom was known to be workingin Amsterdam.

Nicolaas Johannes Roosenboom (Dutch, 1805-1880)
A panoramic landscape with a castle by a river
Add. Notes: signed 'N.J. Roosenboom f.' (lower left) oil on panel 42 x 52.5 cm.
Notes: Following in the footsteps of his brother Andreas (1815-1910), Oswald Achenbach (1827-1905) studied at the Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf. Next to the artist's mentor, the landscape painter Johann Wilhelm Schirmer (1807-1863), Andreas also had a profound influence on his work already early in his career. The artist was held in high regard nationally and internationally by his peers and received honorary memberships to the Academies of Art of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and St. Petersburg. Early on in his career he made studies of landscapes in the area around Düsseldorf. From 1843 onwards Andreas Achenbach undertook various trips throughout Europe including Italy. The peninsula would eventually prove to be Achenbach's main source of inspiration. The artist often visited Italy. His love for Italianate subjects is clearly visible in the present lot which depicts the Arch of Titus on the Via Sacra. The Via Sacra is the main street of ancient Rome, leading from the top of the Capitoline Hill, through some of the most important religious sites of the Forum, to the Colosseum. On the southeast part of the Forum we find the Arch of Titus. It is a Pentelic marble triumphal arch with a single arched opening. It was constructed by the emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his brother Titus, commemorating the capture and sack of Jerusalem in 70 AD, which effectively terminated the Jewish War begun in 66 AD.
Pre-lot Text: PROPERTY OF A DISCERNING COLLECTOR

signed l.r. oil on panel catalogue note by the 17th century plans were already in place to drain and reclaim land from the haarlemmermeer with the use of windmills and an extensive canal system. this project was led by jan adriaenszoon leeghwater amongst others . challenged by the high investments on one hand and the interests of the fishing industry on the other, the project was not started until the early 19th century. towards the end of 1836 , several storms had led the water to surge all the way up to the city gates of leiden and amsterdam , and in 1837 king william i decided that action needed to be taken to drain the lake. it was decided to rely solely on steam driven pumps for this project, a unique feature at the time. in 1845 the first test steam pump was built, named the “leeghwater”. t wo other steam pumps came into use in 1849 and the reclamation could finally be started. on the first of july 1852 the project was finally completed.

Nicolaas Johannes Roosenboom (Dutch, 1805-1880) Een strandgezicht bij Scheveningen: elegant figures on the beach on a summer day signed 'N J Roosenboom ft' (lower centre) oil on panel 71 x 92.5 cm. Kunsthandel M. Wolff, Amsterdam. Douarière Jhr. Teding van Berkhout. J.B. van Heek, Enschede. Exhibited The Hague/Utrecht, Tentoonstelling van Levende Meesters, February 1842, no.60.

Nicolaas Johannes Roosenboom (Dutch, 1805-1880) Skaters on the IJ, Amsterdam signed 'N. J. Roosenboom' (lower right) oil on canvas 39¾ x 49¾ in. (101 x 126.4 cm.) Special Notice VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price plus buyer'spremium. Provenance Anon. sale, Christie's London, 21 June 1985, lot 11. Acquired at the above sale by the present owner.