Frans de Hulst lived and worked in Haarlem. His early paintings remind so much of the technique of Salomon Ruysdael, that at some time it was thought that de Hulst was his apprentice. There is, however, no record of this. In 1631 de Hulst became a member of the guild of st. Lucas in Haarlem. In 1642 he was appointed secretary of this very guild.
Frans de Hulst is foremostly known for his dune landscapes and river views with towers, of which this painting is an example. Mostly painted in the fourties of the seventeenth century, these paintings remind of Jan van Goyen. Much like van Goyen, de Hulst liked to paint eliptical panels. As far as is known, de Hulst never dated his paintings.
This work is a typical example of mid-seventeenth century landscape painting from the vicinity of Haarlem and a well preserved specimen of the work of the painter Frans de Hulst.
Literature:
K.J. Müllenmeister, Meer und Land im Licht des 17. Jahrhunderts, Bremen 1973, vol. 1, ill. 119
H.U. Beck, Jan van Goyen IV Künstler um Jan van Goyen, Doornspijk 1993, p.191, nr. 519 with ill.
Provenance:
Auction Vienna (Dorotheum) november 17. 1942, nr. 42, with illustration
Collection Carl Schünemann, Bremen, 1969
Auction Zürich (Koller), november 27. 1984, nr. 5074, with color illustration
Auction Amsterdam (Christie’s) may 21. 1985, nr. 122, with illustration
