2710 - Salm Adriaen van

Salm Adriaen van 1660/1665 Delfshaven 1720 Sailing ships at sea. Circa 1700 Pen and brush in black and brown, on paper, mounted on backing paper (with watermark) Monogrammed on a wooden beam at the lower right: A.S. Framed 15 × 22.7 cm (sheet size) Private collection, Zurich We thank Dr. Remmelt Daalder, Amsterdam, for confirming the authenticity of this work based on digital photographs. Adriaen van Salm was a Dutch artist, teacher, and cloth merchant best known for his highly detailed, monochrome marine scenes. He lived and worked in Delfshaven near Rotterdam, a major center of the Dutch maritime and whaling industries. In 1706, he was admitted to the Delft Guild of St. Luke as a master draftsman. His art follows in the tradition of 17th-century Dutch marine painting, particularly the “Penschilderij” technique perfected by Willem van de Velde the Elder, which allowed for an extraordinarily precise depiction of ships, rigging, and water movements. This involved applying the finest lines and hatching, as well as washed-out shadow areas, with pen and brush onto a specially prepared painting surface. Another characteristic of van Salm’s work is his use of a pointed instrument, with which he selectively removed the ink in certain areas to create light reflections and distinctive surface effects. In addition to harbor views, he devoted himself in particular to depicting whaling in Arctic waters, which was of great importance to the Dutch economy at that time. A reference book mentioned in the inventory of his estate after his death suggests that the artist drew upon a collection of recurring ship motifs and visual references when developing his compositions. The work on offer depicts a lively maritime scene in which several sailing ships glide closely together across the water in the wind. The dynamically rendered sails and the varied ship shapes impressively convey the movement and the shifting forces at sea. The reduced color palette of black and brown underscores the drawing-like quality and simultaneously lends the composition an atmospheric depth. Particularly revealing is the depiction in the foreground of a so-called “herring boat,” a traditional Dutch fishing vessel shown in the process of hauling in or setting its nets. In the background, a stately three-masted ship with its sails furled can be seen. The other vessels can be classified as cargo sailing ships, which primarily operated in coastal waters and inland waterways. As a vivid testament to historic Dutch shipping, this seascape captivates with its documentary and artistic qualities. Similar works from van Salm’s oeuvre are extremely rare on the international art market and are particularly prized by collectors. Paper slightly browned and with light foxing Auction date: November 28, 2026 Approximate auction time: 10:00 a.m. CET