Up for sale is an exceptional watercolor painting by the celebrated old master Dutch painter Egbert van Drielst. This phenomenal nocturne landscape depicts the Zwarte Water river and the city of Zwolle located in the Northeastern Netherlands. Men in the foreground are shown loading their boats with fishing nets while other sail boats are seen on the water leading into the distance. The city of Zwolle can be seen in the far distance with its tall church steeple rising into the sky just on the horizon. The moon lights up the landscape below and the large cumulous clouds that surround it in the most enchanting fashion. The light from the moon reflects off the surface of the still water creating one of the most lovely landscapes I have ever had the pleasure of owning. A tall tree stretches across the left side of this work helping establish a solid foreground which is also decorated with a stone wall leading to a line of tall grass.

This painting is a noteworthy example, being of the rare subject matter of a nocturne landscape, making it easily a stand out from the rest of his body of work. Generally more traditional landscapes with figures are seen. Another element of this work that raises it far above other examples is a two verse poem that accompanies the landscape adding tremendous context and charm. Hand written in a lovely script are two verses of Dutch (late middle Dutch and of the lower Saxon dialect) reads as follows:

Verse 1 - late middle Dutch:

Bij Zwartsluis aan't Zwarte Water
In den nacht! - Drievoudig zwart!
Toch niet somber! - 't Maantje staat er,
En belonkt het stroomgeklater
Met een glans, die 't zilver tart. 

At Zwartsluis (name of the town) at the Zwarte Water (lake)
In the night! - Triple black!
Though not somber! - The moon is out,
And beholds the clattering of the stream
With a shine, that affronts silver. 

Verse 2 - Lower saxon dialect:

,,Rep oe daor wat, Bouwen, Bart!
,,Rep de knoesten, oldt den snaoter!
,,Griip de korpers bi'er start!
,,Berend! aol den skeut te waoter!
,,'k Zeg oe, jungs! veur zun, nie laoter,
,,Mit de vis up Zwöller mart!" 

,,Did you call out something, build, Bart!
,,Grab the knots, shut your mouth!
,,Grab the bodies by their tails!
,,Berend! Get in the water!
,,I'm telling you, boys! Before the sun (rises), not any later,
,,With the fish on the market of Zwolle!"

The two verses would have been spoken by the figure on the dock whose back is turned to us. Speaking to the two yonger men loading the boat with nets, Bart and Berend. The first verse gives us the location and a wonderful description of the beauty of the silvery moon putting precious silver to shame. Verse two is telling the two fisherman to hurry and grab the fish so they can be taken to the market before the sun rises. How extraordinary! Not only this but the work is correctly signed verso in black ink “E Van Drielst” and the original owner is identified in the artist hand as Mr. Hoogewal, possibly Herman (1740-1815), an Amsterdam politician, or Johannes (1744-1826), a minister in Deventer. This painting came out of the collection of a Central Florida lawyer.

The painting is in fine condition showing just some light sporadic foxing, minor tape present verso at top of sheet and is unframed. The images provided accurately represent the quality, condition and aesthetic beauty of this fine old master Dutch painting by Egbert van Drielst but if you have any questions please feel free to ask prior to purchasing!