Cornelis Springer is considered to be one of the most important and influential architectural painters of the 19th century. Born into an Amsterdam family of building contractors and architects, it is clear why he became the townscape painter par excellence. He studied under the auspices of the well-known and celebrated architectural painter Kasparus Karsen (1810-1896). In the two years that Springer was his apprentice, he would learn how to create capriccio city views intertwined with topographically correct elements.

It was the contemporary trend for painters in his circles to idealize the past and especially the Dutch national heritage. However, from the 1850s onwards, Springer moved towards a more realisti...