George Willem Opdenhoff artwork • painting • previously for sale Shipping in a calm

Opdenhoff was the only one of Andreas Schelfhout’s pupils who solely painted seascapes. The influence of J.C. Schotel, who previously taught him, is probably the reason for this. It was from him that he learned about various types of ships and their distinctive rigging as well as practising how to paint choppy waters. By Schelfhout he was taught the balanced division of motifs across the canvas and diagonal composition. Certainly, whenever he took what his mentors taught him seriously, he attained a high artistic level with his splendidly detailed harbour, sea and river views.