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Lot Essay
The artist is best known for his seascapes, harbour scenes and sea-battles. However, his oeuvre also comprises a number of topographical city views, both painted and engraved, most of them with the artist's native Amsterdam as the central motif. Comparable to the present work is the View of the Zuiderkerk and Zwanenburgwal, Amsterdam, signed and dated 1659, in the Museum der bildenden Künste, Leipzig (inv. no. 829). The colour scheme, with dark grey and blue tones and dark black shadows, enlivened with bright colour accents, is typical of the artist.
The Jan Roodepoortstoren was one of the medieval fortress towers of the city of Amsterdam. In the lower part of the tower lived the Provoost der Stadsbezettingen and the upper part once served as a jailhouse. When the old Town Hall was destroyed by fire in 1652, the gold and silver from the wisselbank was temporarily stored in the Jan Roodepoortstoren. The tower was destroyed in 1829 (see A.J. van der Aa, Aardrijkskundig woordenboek der Nederlanden, Gorinchem, 1839, vol. I., p. 187).
The Jan Roodepoortstoren was one of the medieval fortress towers of the city of Amsterdam. In the lower part of the tower lived the Provoost der Stadsbezettingen and the upper part once served as a jailhouse. When the old Town Hall was destroyed by fire in 1652, the gold and silver from the wisselbank was temporarily stored in the Jan Roodepoortstoren. The tower was destroyed in 1829 (see A.J. van der Aa, Aardrijkskundig woordenboek der Nederlanden, Gorinchem, 1839, vol. I., p. 187).