Andreas Schelfhout

Andreas Schelfhout (The Hague 1787-1870) A farm house near a frozen waterway with figures skating signed and dated 'Schelfhout.f.36' (lower left) oil on panel 43.3 x 53.9 cm. with Douwes, Amsterdam; where acquired by the present owner. Andreas Schelfhout was encouraged by his tutor J.A.A.H. Breckenheimer (1772-1836) to study the work of the 17th Century masters. Similar to the old masters, various elements from nature are selected and combined to create a new whole, allowing the artist to improve on nature itself. This concept, known as electio, was not widely used around the middle of the 19th Century in the Netherlands and its re-introduction by Schelfhout was a significant contribution to the further development of Dutch Romantic art. Schelfhout enjoyed an enormous reputation as a painter of landscapes and he was renowned as the painter 'par excellence' of winter scenes, excelling in the detailed expression of translucent ice and powdery snow. Quintessential of Dutch winter life, these traits made these paintings his most sought-after subjects.

Andreas Schelfhout (The Hague 1787-1870) Manoeuvres of the Hague Garrison on the 'Waalsdorpvlakte', with the 3rd regiment of Light Dragoneers in foreground signed 'A. Schelfhout' (lower right) oil on panel 22.2 x 29 cm. Willem Laanstra, Andreas Schelfhout 1787-1870, Amsterdam, 1995, p. 186, no. ZO 22-2. Josephine Woldring, Hollandse Romantiek, Schilders van het dagelijkse leven in de 19e eeuw, Alkmaar, 2001, p. 93. C. Quarles van Ufford, Andreas Schelfhout, Landschapschilder in Den Haag, Leiden, 2009, p. 138. The Ten Days' Campaign (2 August-12 August 1831), was an attempt by King William I of The Netherlands to surpress the Belgian Revolution. Although an overwhelming military success for the Dutch, in the end, fear of a war with the French forced the Dutch to accept a seaze fire and Belgium would eventually win its independency. The scene depicted here is a manoevre by Dutch Red Hussars.

SCHELFHOUT, ANDREAS (1787-1870). Wintry landscape at evening light with figures on a frozen waterway by a town. Oil/panel, signed. Expertise: Dr. J.M.M. de Meere, Boutersem 2012. 17 x 22,5 cm Abendliche Winterlandschaft mit Personen auf einem zugefrorenen Kanal vor Stadtsilhouette. Öl/Holz, unten rechts signiert.

Andreas Schelfhout (Dutch, 1787-1870) Skaters on a Dutch waterway by a windmill signed 'ASchelfhout' (lower left) oil on canvas 23½ x 31½ in. (60 x 80 cm.) Anonymous sale; Sotheby's London, 14 June 1972, Lot 139a. Andreas Schelfhout was one of the most influential Dutch landscape artists of the 19th Century and is widely seen as a precursor to the Hague School. He specialized in creating scenes of skating figures on frozen waterways. A majestic windmill to the right of the composition in the current lot celebrates his native Netherlands. In 1818 he became a member of the Royal Academy for Visual Arts of Amsterdam. In 1819 he was awarded the Gold Medal at the exhibition in Antwerp. In1822 he was given the rank of Fourth Class Correspondent of the Royal Dutch Institute. His death marked the end of the Romantic period in Holland.

Lot 305 Property of Various Owners Andreas Schelfhout (Dutch 1787-1870) Winter Estuary Scene, Sunset Signed A. Schelfhout and dated 1841 (?) l.l. Oil on panel 9 x 12 in (22.9 x 30.5 cm) Estimate $8,000-12,000 Under black light: no apparent restoration. Areas of very fine craquelure; overall in good condition. Weschler's provides written condition reports, upon request, for any lot in our auctions. Such a condition report is provided as a courtesy to our clients and should in no instance replace first hand inspection by a prospective buyer or his/her agent. All property is sold "as is" in accordance with the terms set forth in paragraph 3 of Conditions of Sale. Neither Weschler's nor the consignor makes any express or implied warranty or representation as to the condition of any lot offered for sale, and no statement made at any time, whether oral or written, shall constitute such a warranty or representation.