Early  17^th  Century  Marine  Scenery

Bril, Paul (Antwerp 1554 – Rome 1626). Rocky Coastal Landscape. In front left sailing-vessel on the water strongly moved by surge. On the right sheerly rising shore with stock of trees. In the centre-field a mighty lighthouse, on the left of it the mouth to the harbour of the town lying underneath of rugged crags. In front of them, as at the other shores, too, numerous boats, but also ships and a galleon. In the distance the inland course of the river under dramatic skyscape including breaking sun and a shower. Engraving by or at Jan Cleasz Visscher (c. 1550 Amsterdam 1612). Below left in the water and white margin resp. inscribed: Paulus Bril inue / ICV (joined) excudit. Sheet size 20 x 26.8 cm.

Bernt IV, 127 (the illustrated preparatory drawing in same size and direction). – Not in Hollstein. – The monogram corresponding with the first one of Wurzbach II, 800; compare also Nagler, Monogramists, III, 2155 + V, 1063, also the one of Cornelis Visscher Nagler V, 1079 leaned upon to the one here. – Figurative watermark.

Trimmed inside the platemark, but still with a fine papermark – a tiny completion on the right – around the subject, below also 5 mm wide. The lower corners somewhat box pleated in respect of former corner mounting. In the upper margin acid-freely repaired tear reaching 2 cm into the image, but scarcely visible only. In the lower margin barely recognizable writing by old hand: Afbeelding van den toeloup des … tot … by (he)t Galileetsche Meyk.

Already in 1574 Paul Bril went to Rome where he met with Adam Elsheimer “whose influence was of decisive consequence for Bril’s art” (Thieme-Becker V, 16 f.) :

“ The sheets of the mature time after 1600 are no longer seen from nature, they are composed more freely and splendidly, the place is designed consciously, the horizon wider, and totally an outspokenly pictorial effect is reached. Heroic landscapes with lateral rocky or tree sceneries present a view of a wide river valley. The trees with exposed roots and boughs broken off have a strange shape … the plastic effect, atmosphere, and clouding (is) essential. These … sheets of the later time, pen drawings with or without wash, anticipate the classic style of Cl. Lorrain and N. Poussin … The largest series of genuine sheets is in the possession of the Louvre – so also the copy of the sheet here; compare also the similar one of same size in Amsterdam, Boon 91 with ills. – …

The  landscape  painting  of  the  17^th  century  stood  longly  under  influence  of  P.  Bril ”

(Bernt).

In such a manner the

extraordinarily  pictorial  sheet  here  in  its  splendid  chiaroscuro

qualified as early print by the still recognizable fine type lines within the Visscher inscription.
Offer no. 28,856 / EUR  1280. / Export price EUR  1216. (c. US$ 1963.) + shipping

“ I am pleased to inform you that I received the book in good order and it is very beautiful, I have looked at it now many times and it is very useful for my studies. ”

(Mevr. E. E., June 29, 2002)