Panoramic view of Haarlem, oil on panel, unsigned.

This is probably a phase 2 study for the final version of the painting, which is part of the art collection at the V&A museum in the UK. Phase 1 consists of drawing the overall composition and rendering of the sky. During phase 2 the foreground is painted. There are already a lot of details to be seen, like the hunter with his two dogs, but the finishing touch is in a 3rd or even a 4th phase.

Andreas Schelfhout is well known for his winter scenes, but his panoramic views from the dunes towards the East, with Haarlem (recognizable by the St. Bavo church) at the horizon, are also very much appreciated.

His style and subjects are inspired by that of Meindert Hobbema and Jacob van Ruisdael. Van Ruisdael’s “View of Haarlem with bleaching fields” probably was an inspiration for this specific painting.

Other work in the collection by Andreas Schelfhout: