catalog text
"MOTHER AND CHILDREN" INTERIOR SCENE BY JACOB SIMON HENDRIK KEVER (DUTCH, 1854-1922)
In oil on canvas, signed lower right "KEVER 1898"
Item # 011TSF19A
The light of the setting sun breaks across this scene with an intense golden glow, settling across the brilliant blond hair of the seated baby girl on the floor as she plays with a flower in hand. Her brother leans over to help her as her mother breaks from repairing a cloth to stretch forward and see what has captured their attention. The scene itself may be a somewhat typical composition for the genre, but unlike many of his contemporaries Kever foregoes the high saturation brilliant warmth to achieve nostalgia and leaves the interior nearly devoid of any belongings. The most precious object in the room is the flower being tenderly handled by the baby girl - a meaningless object but for the love of a mother and doting of an older brother, both supporting her as she explores the world around her.
Painted around 1898, the work retains early labels from MASON ARTZ and probably associated lot numbers. As much of their output was around the turn of the century, they may have been the first gallery to have handled this work.
Jacob Simon Hendrik Kever was born in Amsterdam on June 19, 1854 and chose to be known as "Hein Kever". Showing some promise at an early age, he was accepted as an apprentice under P.F. Greive at the Fine Arts Academy of Amsterdam. After Greive's death in 1878, Kever kept a winter studio in Amsterdam but moved to Laren where he was heavily influenced by Anton Mauve. Kever would become one of the most well-known members of the Laren School. He exhibited in Brussels in 1910 and was awarded medals both in Munich in 1901 and 1905 and in Paris at the Exposition Universelle of 1898 and 1900. He died in Laren in 1922. (Source: Benezit)
Markings / Labels:
- Original label verso "MAISON ARTZ / 14, Lange Vijverberg, LA HAYE"
- Two catalogue numbers verso "No. 732" "No. 16967"
- Stamped "21803" to lower edge of frame verso
Artist Listings & Bibliography:
- E. Benezit Dictionary of Artists, Vol VII, Gründ, 2006, p. 1206
Measurements: 23 1/8" H x 31 7/8" W [canvas]; 28 3/8" H x 36 1/2" W [frame]
Condition Report:
Professionally cleaned and conserved. Unlined. Under UV showing fresh varnish obscuring the underlying oil. Light surface craquelure and some very minor wear around extreme edges of canvas. Frame is period and very early to the painting, perhaps the first frame - this is a very nice frame with extensive wear, cracking to the burlwood veneers and edge wear overall.