Moritz Calisch (1819-1870) - Sisterly love

Monumental 19th-Century Double Portrait of Two Girls – Moritz Calisch (1819-1870) – Dated 1859

This impressive, museum-quality double portrait from 1859 is a quintessential example of Dutch romantic portraiture from the mid-19th century. The painting shows two young sisters in finely starched white dresses against the backdrop of a park landscape at sunset. The refined rendering of the transparent fabrics, the dreamy gazes, and the symbolic coral jewelry testify to an exceptionally high academic level.

Attribution & Signature:
The work is confidently signed and dated in the lower left with "M. Calisch fecit 1859". The elegant, 19th-century style features and the specific stylistic traits, the geographic context, and the hand of the master point convincingly toward the well-known Amsterdam portrait painter Moritz Calisch (1819–1870). Calisch was in this period the favorite portraitist of Amsterdam’s wealthy burgher class. This painting forms a beautiful and representative centerpiece from his later oeuvre.

About the painter: Moritz Calisch and Jewish History
Moritz Calisch (1819–1870) was a celebrated Amsterdam painter of the Dutch Romantic period. He trained at the Royal Academy in Amsterdam under Jan Adam Kruseman, one of the country’s leading portraitists at the time. As early as age 15, Calisch’s exceptional talent was recognized when he was awarded a double silver medal and a prize by the Rotterdam Drawing Society.
Within art history, Calisch holds a unique and prominent position due to his close ties with the Amsterdam Jewish community. In the mid-19th century, the Jewish bourgeoisie in Amsterdam experienced a period of strong emancipation and growing affluence. Successful Jewish bankers, doctors, and merchants sought a master who could dignify their new social status. Calisch—himself of Jewish origin and deeply rooted in the culture—became the absolute favorite portraitist of this elite. His portraits are characterized by a restrained chic atmosphere, in which moral status and the refined fashion of the bourgeoisie take center stage.
Calisch was also an influential figure in the Dutch art world and held the prestigious position of vice-chairman of the artist association Arti et Amicitiae in Amsterdam for many years. After his death in 1870, he was buried at the Jewish Cemetery in Muiderberg, where his monumental grave can still be visited. Today his work is included in the collections of leading museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Amsterdam Museum, and the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam. This monumental double portrait from 1859 forms a splendid and representative centerpiece of his later, most mature oeuvre.

List:
The painting is housed in its original, monumental, gold-plated ornament frame of plaster on wood (thickness a full 9 cm!). This heavy frame greatly enhances the historical and decorative appearance of the artwork.

Condition Report (Transparent & Detailed):
The Canvas: It is an original, unmapped linen canvas on its authentic wooden stretcher with corner braces. On the back, in the middle, there is a small historical vertical crack/tear in the linen of about 5-7 cm, which on the front appears as a thin line in the paint. Bottom-left on the back is a old damp stain/restoration stain visible. The painting shows a light, age-appropriate craquelure across the entire surface, consistent with its nearly 170-year age, but the paint layers are stable.

The Frame: The monumental ornament frame is in authentic, lived-in condition. There are clear craquelure visible in the corners and at the transitions of the plaster work. At the bottom edge, a larger portion of the gilded plaster ornament is missing, and there are light traces of age and minor chipping around. This does not detract from the presentation, but contributes to the antique character.

Specifications:
Artist: Moritz Calisch (1819-1870)
Year: 1859
Medium: Oil on canvas
Canvas Dimensions: 90 x 115 cm
Dimensions Including Frame: 115 x 136 cm
Frame Thickness: 9 cm
Provenance: Private collection, Netherlands

Provenance & Discovery:
The provenance of this monumental double portrait breathes pure Amsterdam history. The painting was acquired by us at the time from a private estate in Amsterdam-West. The previous owner had inherited the piece from his parents, who at the time lived along the stately Amsterdam canal belt—the exact milieu where the wealthy bourgeoisie entrusted such commissions to masters like Moritz Calisch.
After purchase, the painting spent over 30 years in a protected, safe place behind a cabinet in our shop. Only recently, during preparations for our large relocation, has this hidden gem resurfaced after all these decades. Now that the dust has been blown away, this exceptional piece of Amsterdam history is once again ready for sale and to adorn the walls of a new, worthy collection.

Shipping: Due to the monumental size, weight, and high vulnerability of the antique frame and painting, shipping via regular post is strongly discouraged. To guarantee safe delivery, this artwork is packed with extraordinary care (multiple layers of high-quality bubble wrap, sturdy cardboard, and protective foam) and shipped insured on a pallet. This ensures safe door-to-door transport.
Note: For international shipments outside the EU, or to certain island destinations, transport costs can vary greatly. We strive to quote a fair price; if the price is not feasible, you will receive an exact transport quote. If final transport costs, due to unforeseen circumstances, turn out to be too high, both parties retain the option to cancel the sale at no cost. Of course, personal pickup is always possible as well.

P.S.: The first and third photos were created with the help of AI.