PETER VAN DE VELDE (attr. A)

(Antwerp 1634 - after 1707) Marina con vascelli in navigazione Oil on canvas, 84X140 cm The canvas is attributed to Peter van de Velde (Antwerp, 1634-1707), a famous painter specialized in marine views with vessels. In 1654 it is documented that he was registered at the Guild of St. Luke in Antwerp. Critics, however, given the longevity of the artist, suspect that there was an anagraphic error and that painters named Peter van de Velde were father and son and both in the same workshop. In fact, some recently discovered works bear dates after 1707 up to 1723 (cf. Christie's auction, London South Kensington, 10 July 2009, lot 143 is, according to the catalogue, dated 1722 - a painting at the Antwerp auction, Bernaerts, lot 15/17 May 2006, is dated 1723). The painting under consideration finds precise correspondences for example with the Marina vascelli sold at Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 4 November 2003 lot 65 and with the Paesaggio marino con isola fortificata e vascelli sold at Lempertz, Cologne, 16 March 2016, lot 56 Reference bibliography: R. Preston, Seventeenth Century Marine Painters of the Netherlands, 1974, pp. 49 ; 50