The Nieuwezijdskapel with the snow-covered Wijde Capelsteeg, the Burgerweeshuis in the distance

This painting is a striking winter scene that beautifully showcases Springer’s talent for atmospheric perspective and intricate architectural detail. Springer shows us the Nieuwezijds Chapel, a significant historical building, with the narrow, snow-covered Wijde Capelsteeg leading towards the grand facade of the Burgerweeshuis (the former city orphanage) in the background.

The scene is alive with townspeople going about their daily. It is a winter day and a sled is being pulled through the street with a dog next to it, a boy is about to throw a snowball adding movement to the foreground. The warm glow of sunlight breaking through the winter sky contrasts with the crisp, cool tones of the snow, creating a sense of depth and realism.

Springer’s precise brushwork and skillful use of light make this painting a remarkable example of 19th-century Dutch urban landscapes, capturing both the charm of historical Amsterdam and the serene beauty of winter.

Cornelis Springer (1817-1891) has been called the “greatest painter among the architects, and the greatest architect among the painters”. Cornelis Springer mainly painted town and village scenes. Together with B.C. Koekkoek and A. Schelfhout, he belongs to the leading painters of Dutch Romanticism. In an era where cities were undergoing many changes, Springer depicted his romanticized vision of the streets, houses and the Dutch people. Springer traveled throughout the Netherlands to document the various cities including Amsterdam.

Literature: -Willem Laanstra, J.H.A. Ringeling and H.C. de Bruijn, ‘Cornelis Springer (1817-1891)’, Utrecht (Tableau) 1984, ill. p. 123, no. 60-1, as: ‘De Kapelsteeg te Amsterdam bij winter’.

Provenance: Acquired directly from the artist by G.J. Schouten, Amsterdam, 31 December 1859 (for fl. 200,-). With Kunsthandel Pieter A. Scheen, The Hague, by 1965.-Private collection, the Netherlands.