Haarlem winter scene, attributed to Nicolaes Molenaer (1628-1676)

Nicolaes Molenaer (1628-1676) attributed. Winter scene at the foot of the ramparts of Haarlem.

Relined canvas of 49.5 cm by 32 cm.
Frame of 67 cm by 45 cm.
Traces of signature at the bottom right

Our paintings are one of the three known to date which offer us a view of Haarlem from the north-east side of the city which allows us to see very clearly the Saint Catherine's Bridge (Sin Catrijnenbrug) flanked by its two towers and in the same axis, in the background the Gothic church of Saint Bavo (not to be confused with the Saint Bavo Cathedral in the same city, built in the 19th century).

Nicolaes Molenaer (Haarlem-1628; Paris-1676)

Best known for his scenes of canals outside the city walls and winter villages, Klaes Molenaer was a landscape and genre painter from Haarlem who belonged to the wider circle of Jacob van Ruisdael (1628/29-1682). Molenaer's charming landscapes are often embellished with sketch-like figures of washerwomen, fishermen and villagers who often evoke a picturesque vision of provincial life and leisure in the Netherlands. He sought themes in nature, particularly liking to paint river banks, sea shores... When he painted winter landscapes, he is somewhat reminiscent of Isaac van Oostade. Nicolas Piémont (1644-1709) is said to have been his pupil and it seems, so obvious are the similarities in style, that he trained Thomas Heeremans (1641-1694). It is not always easy to distinguish some of their respective works. It is exhibited in many museums including Abbeville, Amiens, Notthingam, Bremen, Cologne, Kassel, Mainz, Saint Petersburg…