Christophe-Ludwig Agricola (1665–1724), After - De Distelvink

Christophe-Ludwig Agricola (1665–1724) – 19th-century follower
De Distelvink
Watercolor on paper, 27.5 × 19.5 cm (with frame 42.5 × 34.5 cm)
Undesignated – Romance
Provenance: former Kunsthandel Rotterdam; subsequently included in a high-quality Dutch private collection.

Introduction
This refined watercolor depicts a bullfinch on a tree branch, rendered with an accuracy and sensitivity that closely align with the tradition of natural lyrical painting around Christophe-Ludwig Agricola. Although the work dates from the 19th century and thus comes from the hand of a follower, it convincingly aligns with the appreciation for Agricola’s delicate landscapes and nature studies, which were already praised in his own time. The bullfinch – a beloved motif in European art history – is given an intimate role here within a romantic natural setting that revolves around observation, atmosphere, and detail.

Description of the work
Centered is the crested finch, carefully rendered with finely measured brushstrokes that vividly bring to life the texture of the feathers, the characteristic red-black head, and the subtle golden accents in the wings. The bird rests on a gnarled branch with mosses and light foliage, typical of romanticized nature depictions where every element receives attention. The background opens to a softly colored sky with pastel-like nuances of light blue, pink, and gentle gray tones, creating a serene, almost silent atmosphere. The surrounding greenery is built up from layered shades that transition from dark green to bluish green, suggesting depth and spatiality.

Technique and use of color
The watercolor technique used is refined and controlled. The artist applies transparent washes for the sky and backgrounds, while the bird itself is built up from finer, almost miniature brushstrokes. This contrast gives the work both liveliness and precision. The color palette consists of soft sky tones, natural greens, earthy browns, and accents of red and yellow. The bullfinch thus forms a bright and natural focal point within a harmonious composition.

Composition and style
The composition follows a vertical structure, with the tree trunk and branches creating a dynamic diagonal framework. The bird forms a resting point within that movement, precisely at a crossing of diagonals, which draws the viewer's attention almost immediately to the animal. The romantic appreciation of nature — not overly dramatic, but intimate and observant — aligns with the 19th-century appreciation for nature studies that are both documentary and poetic. This approach is related to the painting tradition of Christophe-Ludwig Agricola, whose landscapes and natural scenes are characterized by atmospheric subtlety, a love of detail, and a strong connection to the German and South German landscape tradition.

The artist and his influence
Christophe-Ludwig Agricola, born in Regensburg in 1665, developed into an influential landscape painter in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He traveled to places including Italy and France, where he found inspiration in nature, light effects, and the refinement of the European landscape tradition. His body of work mainly consists of landscapes, studies of nature, and atmospheric outdoor scenes, often executed in watercolor and gouache, media in which he demonstrated exceptional technical mastery. His influence extended to later generations who, in the 19th century, reappreciated his intimate nature impressions. This watercolor aligns with that renewed interest and reflects Agricola’s spirit of meticulous observation and sense of natural harmony.

Placement within the art movement
The work belongs to the romantic tradition in which nature studies, bird representations, and landscape details are central. The serenity and precise realism connect it to artists who showed a similar sensitivity to nature study, such as Jan van Huysum and Aert Schouman in the Netherlands, and internationally Jacques-Laurent Agasse and Ferdinand von Wright.

Condition
The sheet shows slight paper discoloration and a few small foxing spots, consistent with the age of the work. The watercolor itself is stable, with bright pigments and a careful presentation in a classic frame with multiple mat borders.

Origin
The work was previously part of a collection assembled through an art dealer in Rotterdam and was then held for a longer period in a respectable Dutch private collection. No further public market history is known, which makes its fresh appearance on the market all the more attractive.

Final remarks
This 19th-century imitation of Christophe-Ludwig Agricola is an example of careful and refined nature drawing in the Romantic tradition. The goldfinch has been captured with attention and technical skill, in a composition that combines tranquility, richness of detail, and atmospheric subtlety. The work makes an attractive collector's item for enthusiasts of ornithological art, Romantic natural scenes, and the influence of Agricola’s tradition in the 19th century. With No Reserve, this watercolor offers a special opportunity to acquire an elegant and characterful Romantic natural piece.

The work 'De Distelvink' is in a gilded frame with a gilded passe-partout behind glass.

Total dimensions: 42.5x34.5cm
Visible artwork dimensions: 27.5x19.5cm

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