Born in Alkmaar in 1621, Allart van Everdingen was a student of Roelant Savery (1576-1639) and Pieter Molijn (1595-1661) and the younger brother of the history painter Caesar van Everdingen (1616/17-1678). From 1640 to 1644 Allart traveled to Sweden and Norway where he drew the mountainous landscapes he observed. In addition to Scandinavian views, he painted and drew animals, marine scenes and townscapes. Everdingen was primarily responsible for introducing to Holland a tradition of mountainous landscape painting which served as a model for the monumental landscapes of artists including Jacob van Ruisdael. (1628-1682). The majority of Everdingen’s drawings were not preparatory for paintings, but were created as independent works of art.
The present highly detailed miniature drawing long time has been together with cat. no. 385 as both drawings were at auction in the same lot in the auction catalogue of A.G. Visser on 18 April 1859.[1]
As Davies states, Hendrik Spilman (1721-1784) copied several times after Allart van Everdingen, supported with evidence in the collections of The State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, the Robert Lehman Collecion, New York (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York).
Hendrik Spilman copied after our drawing and it's previous long-time companion (not erroneously to be misinterpreteated as pendants), both copies preserved at the Rijksprentenkabinet, Leiden since 1862.[2]
[1] Alice I. Davies, The Drawings of Allaet van Everdingen. A complete catalogue including the Studies for Reynard the Fox.
Davaco, Doornspijk, 2007. p. 315, no. 370.
[2] Hendrik Spilman, Beach scene with boats/Landscape with houses and a mill by the water.
Rijksprentenkabinet, Leiden. inv. no. PK-T-245 and PK-T-246.
