Willem Koekkoek (Amsterdam 1839–1890) A View of a Netherlandish Town with Figures Chattering, signed W. Koekkoek, oil on canvas, 44 x 59 cm, framed Provenance: Sotheby’s Billingshurst, 26 October 1993, lot 245; MacConnal-Mason & Son Ltd., London; Acquired from the above in 1994, Private Collection Belgium since two generations. Willem Koekkoek grew up in a family of artists. His father Hermanus Koekkoek (1815-1882) was a renowned marine painter who taught Willem from a young age. His brothers Hermanus Koekkoek the Younger (1836-1909), Johannes Hermanus Barend Koekkoek (1840-1912) and Hendrik Barend Koekkoek (1849-1909) were also successful artists. Willem Koekkoek’s specialism was Dutch townscapes, the present lot being a perfect example. Town scenes such as these grew in popularity throughout the 19th Century in the Netherlands and Great Britain. As a result Koekkoek travelled across his home country in search of subject matter and commissions. Fellow artists Cornelis Springer (1817-1891) and Adrianus Eversen (1818-1897) were his predominant artistic competitors. He was not concerned with topographical accuracy; rather, he approached his work romantically, embellishing reality. Koekkoek found inspiration in 17th century Dutch Golden Age paintings, and eventually became a leading Dutch romantic painter of townscapes.