A view of the river Oude Rijn in Alphen aan den Rijn, with an elegant company in a yacht and other figures strolling along the river and on boats

In this charming picture, Jacobus Storck has depicted a quiet summer's day with figures taking their boats onto the river to go for a pleasure cruise, or taking a stroll through the town. Traditionally this view has been identified as Maarssen with the river Vecht - often confused with views of the Amsterdam Overtoom. There are indeed similarities with a very comparable view of Maarssen, dated 1664 (with Richard Green, London, 2012-13). Here for instance, the directive light also falls onto the plaster of a similar classical building to the left. However, other topographical markers refer to the town of Alphen aan den Rijn along the Oude Rijn, as has kindly been pointed out by Laurens Schoemaker of the RKD, The Hague, to whom we are grateful. A very comparable view was offered with Philips, London, 5 July 1994, lot 128, which has also been identified by Laurens Schoemaker as Alphen aan den Rijn. An etching of 1714 by Francois van Bleyswijck of the town shows a very similar view. The present lot displays the artistic freedom the painter allowed himself as he altered architecture and reused motifs to benefit the composition.

Jacobus was the older brother of the better known Abraham Storck (1644-1708), with whom he shared a thriving studio in Amsterdam, painting alongside their younger brother Johannes (1629-1673). They specialized in views of Amsterdam and topographical depictions of the region, facilitating for foreign visitors and wealthy merchantmen and noblemen with houses and estates in the country side.