Oene Romkes de Jongh (1812–1896) - Dorpstraat met Figuren en Paardenkar (NO RESERVE)

Oene Romkes de Jongh (1812–1896)
Dorpstraat with figures and a horse-drawn carriage
Oil painting on canvas, 54 × 66.5 cm; with frame 69.5 × 82 cm
hand-signed at the bottom right
Condition: light craquelure; minimal retouchings visible under UV light.

Introduction
This characteristic village scene belongs to the core repertoire of Oene Romkes de Jongh, a painter who gained significant recognition in the nineteenth century for his meticulously detailed Dutch street views and intimate, recognizable atmospheric images. His work demonstrates a pronounced focus on architecture, artisanal detailing, and the liveliness of everyday village life. Within the context of Dutch Romanticism, this painting is a representative and high-quality example of the genre landscape that helped De Jongh build a solid reputation.

Description of the work
The scene depicts a wide village street flanked by low brick houses, wooden fences, and mature trees that give the street a pleasant rhythm. Central in the composition, a horse-drawn cart slowly moves along the dusty road, accompanied by walking figures and residents who seem to be conversing. On the right side, a woman leans over a doorpost, while further in the distance, the street narrows towards a building resembling a city gate. De Jongh arranges these elements with remarkable clarity: he constructs the scene from a low horizon and a deep perspective that gradually guides the viewer's eye to the background. The refined detailing of windows, roof tiles, fences, and vegetation is characteristic of his work and contributes to the authentic character of the scene.

Technique and use of color
De Jongh works with a disciplined, subtle oil painting technique that emphasizes precise brushwork and controlled tonal transitions. The color palette is warm and harmonious, with earth tones for architecture, saturated greens for foliage, and bright light in the sky and clouds. The atmospheric transparency and subtle modulation between light and shadow give the canvas a convincing sense of depth. The paint layer shows slight craquelure, appropriate for the age of the painting; under UV light, only minor and carefully executed retouchings are visible, indicating a stable and well-preserved condition.

Composition and art historical context
Within Dutch Romanticism, De Jongh occupies a place among artists who shaped the historical, rural, and small-town identity of the Netherlands with a strong emphasis on character, atmosphere, and recognizability. His work aligns with the nineteenth-century reevaluation of the national landscape and Dutch life, where tradition, craftsmanship, and picturesque simplicity were central. The balanced composition, narrative detail, and historical sensitivity clearly place this work within this movement, which includes, among others, Cornelis Springer, Adrianus Eversen, Charles Busson, and Carl Hasch as stylistic contemporaries.

The artist
Oene Romkes de Jongh was born in Harlingen and developed into a skilled painter of Dutch city and village scenes. He was active during a period when interest in realistic detailed topographical representations greatly increased, and his body of work is characterized by a consistent dedication to accurate architectural depiction and lively genre elements. His street scenes are among the most valued parts of his oeuvre and form a recognizable contribution to Dutch Romanticism of the second half of the nineteenth century.

Condition
The painting is in good, stable condition. The paint shows a light, even craquelure that is consistent with the age of the work. UV examination reveals some minimal retouching that has been carefully and discreetly carried out, without compromising the integrity of the image. The canvas is firmly stretched and is presented in a richly profiled, decorative frame that gives the work a representative appearance.

Final remarks
This painting forms a pure and attractive example of Oene Romkes de Jongh's contribution to Dutch Romanticism. The combination of topographical accuracy, narrative liveliness, and technical refinement makes it a particularly collectible work within the genre of nineteenth-century village scenes. The authentic signature, well-preserved condition, and characteristic themes contribute to the museum-like appearance that makes this work especially appealing in a premium auction context.

The work 'Dorpstraat met Figuren en Paardenkar' is in a gilded bronze-golden wooden frame with plaster ornaments.

Total dimensions: 69.5 × 82 cm
Canvas dimensions: 54 × 66.5 cm

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