Jan Porcellis (Dutch, 1574-1632) Dutch shipping off a pier in a choppy sea Oil on panel 15-1/4 x 17-1/2 inches (38.7 x 44.5 cm) Signed indistinctly on the hull of the foreground ship: J · P Property from a Private Collection, Naples, Florida PROVENANCE: Sotheby's, New York, January 15, 1993, lot 47; Acquired from the above. Jan Porcellis established a highly original approach to marine painting, emphasizing tonal effects and atmospheric unity through a restrained, often near-monochromatic palette. His evocative seascapes, characterized by subtle gradations of light and expansive views of sea and sky, exerted a profound influence on contemporaries such as Jan van Goyen, Pieter de Molijn, and Salomon van Ruysdael. These artists frequently followed Porcellis in depicting anonymous vessels set within vast, open waters, where mood and atmosphere take precedence over narrative detail. Unlike earlier marine painters, whose works were often produced on commission, Porcellis and his circle painted for the open market. This shift encouraged greater freedom of execution and a focus on tonal harmony over the more descriptive approach traditionally associated with maritime subjects. He was among the first Dutch marine painters to depict anonymous seascapes unconnected to identifiable ports—a radical departure that helped establish a new direction in Dutch marine painting. Porcellis was widely admired in his own time, and his works were collected by leading artists including Rembrandt, Rubens, Allart van Everdingen, and Jan van de Cappelle. Samuel van Hoogstraten praised him as the "Raphael" of marine painting. Today, Porcellis' works are held in major collections worldwide, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, underscoring his lasting importance in the development of Dutch marine painting. HID12401132022 © 2026 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved www.HA.com/TexasAuctioneerLicenseNotice

Sotheby's, New York, January 15, 1993, lot 47; Acquired by the present owner from the above.

White surface accretion lower right. Small impressions and loss to panel in upper right corner.
Under UV: varnish fluoresces green faintly. Small areas of inpaint along horizon line and around scratch in upper center region.
Framed Dimensions 24.5 X 26.75 Inches