Abraham Meertens (Dutch, 1747-1823)

A Hawk or Harrier

Watercolor and gouache over indications in black chalk

Bears inscription in black chalk, verso: Torenvalk, and stamp, verso: MADE IN HOLLAND

Provenance: With Bernard Houthakker, Amsterdam; Unicorno Collection (inventory number N 477)

Paper size: 17 x 10 ¼ in.

Frame size: 28 ½ x 22 ½ in.

Abraham Meertens was born in February 1747 in Middelburg. He was a follower, possible student, and occasional collaborator of Aert Schouman (1710–1792). Meertens emulated Schouman’s color palette and compositions, as well as his loose technique for capturing natural history subjects in watercolor and washes. Both artists worked from live species observed in zoos and private collections, as well as from taxidermied specimens.

By 1777, Meertens had established himself as an independent master in Middelburg, where he co-founded the town’s ‘Tekenacademie’ (drawing academy), of which he also became the director. He provided large-scale decorative wall paintings, known as ‘behangsels,’ for the elite of Middelburg. In 1809, he was commissioned to create a sixth decorative painting featuring birds to complement an existing scheme of five such works by Schouman, confirming their collaborative efforts.

This watercolor by Abraham Meertens was previously part of the collection of distinguished Dutch collectors Saam and Lily Nijstad, whose impeccable taste shaped the Unicorno Collection. This remarkable compendium of works on paper, consisting of five hundred pieces, contained only drawings of the finest quality and condition. This particular drawing originated from a group of approximately one hundred bird and animal drawings that were initially attributed to Aert Schouman. Schouman expert L. J. Bol, director of the Dordrechts Museum, was invited to the United States to examine the drawings in 1972. Unable to make the trip himself, he asked Saam Nijstad to go in his place. Nijstad concluded that the drawings were not by Schouman but by his follower, Abraham Meertens. The following year, Saam Nijstad purchased the entire grouping. The significance and scope of the Unicorno Collection are recognized by the Dutch national art historical documentation agency (the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie), the Rembrandt House Museum, and the Dordrechts Museum, which have collaborated to research and document each drawing in this remarkable collection. Renowned experts in Dutch drawings, Charles Dumas and Robert-Jan te Rijdt, undertook the cataloging of each unique watercolor and drawing.

The verso of this watercolor bears the stamp “MADE IN HOLLAND.” At the time of its importation into the United States, it was necessary to apply this stamp to the back of each drawing to avoid American customs duty on the reimportation of domestically produced objects; as a result, these works have humorously been referred to as the ‘Made in Holland’ drawings. 

# AP00001

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