Jacobus Cornelis Wynand (Ko) Cossaar
(Amsterdam 1874 – The Hague 1966)
Sacre-Coeur, Paris
Signed ll
Oil on canvas, 46.2 x 61.6 cm
Provenance:
– Kunsthandel Esher Surrey, The Hague (inv. No. 879)
– Martin Seegers Art Mediation, Oegstgeest
– Private collection, The Netherlands
NB:
Cossaar grew up in Amsterdam where he trained in stage decoration under August Allebé (1838-1927). Soon he was painting the stage sets for the Plantage Schouwburg theatre, and from the age of seventeen he was directing the decoration studio. For the acclaimed Rembrandt parties in 1906 he designed the sets for the tableaux vivants, which he created in cooperation with Marius Bauer (1867-1932). After moving to London with his wife and first daughter he specialized in impressionistic cityscapes and harbor views. He was given a contract by the renowned art gallery Goupil in London, due to which many of his early works can be found in English museums and private collections. In the Netherlands Cossaar is mainly known for his church interiors and exteriors, which he painted while traveling through Europe. The knowledge of perspective, which he was taught training as a painter of stage sets, came in handy.