DIRCK STOOP Utrecht, Netherlands (1610) / (1686) "Port view

Oil on panel. Signed in the lower left corner Dirk Stoop is primarily known for his work as a landscape painter, and especially for his skill in depicting horses. His apprenticeship at the Guild of Saint Luke in Utrecht dates back to 1638, and he probably travelled to Rome between 1639 and 1645. There he must have come into contact with other Dutch and Flemish painters who brought Italian-influenced harbour views into fashion. Among them was Jan Baptist Weenix (1621-1660), of whom a drawing is kept in the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum in Braunschweig (sanguine, 21.9 x 33 cm, inventory no. Z448) of the same scene, which served as inspiration for Stoop's present work. In addition to the hustle and bustle of the characters, the presence of an imposing entrance arch stands out, which is directly inspired by Roman arches such as the Arch of Titus in Rome, which tells us about the great influence of classical antiquity on these northern painters. Measurements: 26 x 47 cm