Ships in a Storm off Enkhuizen is a painting with an interesting past. It was sold after William II's death, when the king's huge debt to his brother-in-law Tsar Nicolas I of Russia, became apparent. Indeed, the entire collection was put up for auction in 1850. Ships in a Storm off Enkhuizen made 6,045 guilders. It was the sixth most expensive of the approximately 350 paintings. Most expensive of all were the famous portraits of Jan Pellicorne and his wife Susanna van Collen by Rembrandt, currently in the Wallace Collection in London.
William II's Ships in a Storm off Enkhuizen and a second spectacular seascape by Ludolf Backhuyzen are the main attraction in an exhibition by Hoogsteder & Hoogsteder entitled Majestic Marines. This second painting was recently identified as Battle at Sea between Hollanders and Pirates. Many fascinating aspects are explored in this show based around these two paintings: Dutch history, artistic technique, art-historical research, aesthetics and art appreciation are all featured. In addition, the exhibition presents seascapes by contemporaries of Backhuyzen from Amsterdam and takes a look at William II's artistic taste. The new issue of Hoogsteder Journal accompanies the exhibition, with a detailed report on the restoration of the two paintings and a behind-the-scenes view of the art market.
During his reign, King William II's art collection was on display at his palace on Kneuterdijk in The Hague. Today, Ships in a Storm off Enkhuizen can be seen a stone's throw away in the Hoogsteder & Hoogsteder gallery at Lange Vijverberg 15.
You are cordially invited to visit the exhibition. For more information please contact Josine Corstens, Willem Jan Hoogsteder or Marieke Spliethoff.