Jan GRIFFIER the Elder Amsterdam, circa 1650 - London, 1718 The passage of the ferry through a city in a landscape inspired by the Rhine valley Oil on oak panel, one plate The ferry, oil on oak panel, by J. Griffier the older 49,50 x 64 cm (19,49 x 25,20 in.) Provenance: Collection of Sir Guy Fison, Bt ; Anonymous sale; London, Christie's, 30 November 1973, no. 30 (bought by Duncan); Sir Raven Collection, Esquire, according to the Michel Segoura gallery catalogue; Anonymous sale; London, Sotheby's, 8 July 1981, no. 96; Anonymous sale; London, Sotheby's, 12 December 1984, no. 86; Galerie Michel Segoura, Paris; Probably acquired from the latter by the present owner around 1987; Private collection, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Exhibitions: 'Tableaux des Maîtres Anciens Hollandais et Flamands du 17e siècle', Paris, Galerie Michel Segoura, 1985, no. 13 Comment: The fascination for the rugged scenery of the Rhine Valley was felt by artists from the High Middle Ages to the Romantic period. Jan Griffier was no exception. Born in Amsterdam, he spent most of his life in London, where he enjoyed the protection of the Duke of Beaufort. With the exception of around ten years spent in Rotterdam between 1695 and 1705, it was in England that he worked and successfully sold his small, refined landscapes inspired by Herman Saftleven.