Cornelis Springer 
(Amsterdam 1817 - 1891 Hilversum)
"A Town Hall with a Vegetable Market in a lively City, possibly the Vijgendam in Amsterdam"
on canvas: 59 x 48 cm
signed with monogram and dated 52 (l.l.)
Provenance
Kunsthandel Claus & Fritz, Amsterdam, who bought it directly from the artist on 22 February 1852; from a private Dutch collection
LiteratureWillem Laanstra, H.C. de Bruijn & J. H.A. Ringeling, 'Cornelis Springer (1817-1891)' , Tableau, Utrecht 1984, no.52-2, p. 76;
Willem Laanstra, 'Cornelis Springer, Geschilderde Steden', p. 36, with ill.
Cornelis Springer grew up in a family of architects and building contractors in Amsterdam, which inspired his brilliant specialty in painting town views.
This view of 1852 was identified as the Vijgendam in Amsterdam. Since the 17th century, the south side of the Dam square was named Vijgendam, until 1957; the present building of the Industriële Club occupies a part of this address. In the background we recognize the rebuilt town hall, once painted by Saenredam and destroyed in a fire of 1648.