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William van de Velde Bonfield
(1834-1885)
Winter Scene, Burlington County, New Jersey
Watercolor on paper, 11 1/4 × 16 7/8 inches
Signed and dated at lower left: "V. de V. Bonfield"
Inscribed at lower right in pencil: "Burlington Co N.J."
William van de Velde Bonfield was the son of the artist George Robert Bonfield
(see plate 9),
who named him after the famous Dutch marine painter Willem
van de Velde the Younger (1633-1707), in turn the son of the painter Willem
van de Velde the Elder (1611-1693). The elder Bonfield may have seen works
by van de Velde in Joseph Bonaparte’s collection at Point Breeze near Bordentown;
he is also documented as having owned engravings after the Dutch artist’s paintings.
The younger Bonfield worked mainly in New Jersey and the southeastern part
of Pennsylvania. He exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
in Philadelphia from 1861 to 1869,1 and he was noted for picturesque winter
snow scenes such as this rural view of Burlington County.
Copyright ©2005 The Schwarz Gallery
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