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South ambulatory of Sint Bavokerk, Haarlem

Maker

Pieter Jansz. Saenredam (artist)
1597-1665

Title

Date of Production

1634

Medium

black chalk, pen and brown ink, grey wash, white chalk used both dry and as bodycolour, on blue laid paper, with brown ink framing lines, laid down (paper is variegated, made up of fibres dyed blue with indigotin)

Dimensions

Height: 33.8 cm
Width: 23.8 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.2010

Mode of Acquisition

Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

ambulatories

Label Text

The Haarlem artist Saenredam is best known for his serene portrayals of Dutch church interiors, which he planned in drawings. His working process usually began with a freehand drawing, of which this sheet is a characteristic example. It records the architecture of Haarlem’s cathedral viewed from the central crossing of the nave, whilst also capturing the light and atmosphere of its imposing interior. Saenredam subsequently created a more detailed construction drawing to focus on accurate perspective and measured architecture, and this would serve as a reference for the final painting.

Provenance

Jacques Arnal; his sale, Sotheby's (London), 24 February 1925, lot 87; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b; Witt Bequest 1952

Exhibition History

Drawn to Blue: Artists' use of Blue Paper, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 04/10/2024-26/01/2025

Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Frick Collection, New York, 02/10/2012-27/01/2013

Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 14/06/2012-09/09/2012 ...More

The Witt Collection - Four centuries of drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/04/2004-20/06/2004

A Passion for Drawings, Collectors at the Courtauld, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 28/02/2002-09/06/2002

Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 16/10/1991-19/01/1992

Dutch drawings from the Witt Collection: Part 2: Other than landscape, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1976-77 (Nov.-Feb.)

Architectural Drawings from the Witt Collection, University of Nottingham, 01/05/1972-01/06/1972

Drawings from the Witt Collection, University of Southampton, 16/02/1970-04/03/1970

Master Drawings of the 17th century from the Witt Collection, Art Gallery of South Australia, Festival Exhibitions, Adelaide, 1968

unnumbered typescript - title was possibly 'A Selection of Drawings from The Witt/Courtauld Collections [as exhibited in 1964 at University of Sussex, Falmer]', Nottingham University, 1966

Catalogue raisonné of the works by Pieter Jansz. Saenredam: published on the occasion of the exhibition Pieter Jansz. Saenredam, Centraal Museum, Utrecht, 15/09/1961-03/12/1961

Architectural Drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/07/1961-01/10/1961

Drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1958-59

Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London; York City Art Gallery; Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953

Old Masters from the Witt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 01/01/1943-01/05/1943

Dutch drawings XVIth to XVIIIth century lent by Sir Robert and Lady Witt, Campbell Dodgson, Julian G. Lousada and J.C. Witt., Oxford Arts Club, 05/01/1929-02/02/1929 ...Less

Literature

Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, Frick Collection, New York and Courtauld Gallery, London London 2012-2013
pp. 139-41

Master Drawings from the Courtauld Collections, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1991
cat. no. 63
pp. 134, 191
ill. on p. 135

Schwartz, Gary and Marten Jan Bok, Pieter Saenredam the painter and his time, Maarssen 1990
p. 110 and no. 53
fig. 118 ...More

Dutch church painters: Saenredam's Great Church at Haarlem in context, National Gallery of Scotland, 6 July - 9 September 1984, 1984
no. 24
ill. on p. 45

Dutch drawings from the Witt Collection: Part 2: Other than landscape, Courtauld Gallery, London, November 1976 - Febr
cat. no. 60

Catalogue raisonné of the works by Pieter Jansz. Saenredam: published on the occasion of the exhibition Pieter Jansz. Saenredam, Centraal Museum, Utrecht, 1961
cat. no. 53
no. 53
pl. 54

Architectural Drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1961
cat. no. 41

Drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1958 - 1959
cat. no. 2

Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London, York City Art Gallery and Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953
cat. no. 99

Swillens, P.T.A., Pieter Janszoon Saenredam, schilder van Haarlem, 1597-1665, Amsterdam 1935
no. 69
pl. 81

Woodall, Joanna, 'Ad Vivum' conference pop-up display introduction, London ...Less

Inscriptions

Watermark: unable to check due to backing sheet.

Inscription: Verso (backing sheet): centre, graphite, circled: “405”; lower left corner, brown ink: “Nr. 995.”.

Collector's mark: Verso: lower right corner, stamped in black ink: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

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