LONDON.- Bonhams presents one of the finest groups of Dutch Romantic paintings to come to auction in the last decade. The paintings will be offered for sale in the 19th Century Paintings auction at Bonhams, New Bond Street on 25th June.

The collection has been carefully put together over many years by an important European private collector. It represents some of the most prominent artists of the Dutch Romantic era who came to define mainstream 19th century Dutch painting as we know it today.

The paintings show stunning seascapes and city views of Amsterdam in the 1800s as well as idyllic landscapes of the surrounding countryside.

A pink sunset sky dominates View on the Ij with Amsterdam in the background by Charles Leickert (Dutch, 1816-1907) is the top lot in the group. The oil on canvas is signed and dated 'Chs. Leickert.f 49', and is offered at the estimate of £180,000-£220,000.

Cornelis Springer (Dutch, 1817-1891) was a leading light of the Dutch Romantic group of artists, famous for his depiction of the streets of Amsterdam and other cities. Veel neringdoenden in een drukbevolkte straat in een Hollandse stad (£150,000-£200,000) and Marktdag op een plein voor een oud gebouw in een Hollandse stad (£130,000-£180,000) depict busy market scenes and give a real insight into contemporary urban life.

Frederik Marinus Kruseman (Dutch, 1816-1882) is best known for his winter scenes showing crumbling grand houses beside frozen rivers. Frozen waterway beside a castle by Frederik Marinus Kruseman is a wonderful example, estimated £120,000-£180,000. It conveys the harsh realities of daily life in the cold climate. Gathered on the ice at the end of a winter's day by Andreas Schelfhout (Dutch, 1787-1870) also takes life on the ice as its subject matter and its exquisite quality is the equal of any picture in the collection.

The collection is of great importance as it covers such a wide range of the artists who set new standards in the depiction of the detail of everyday scenes, and have come to embody our view of 19th century Dutch life. The technical accomplishment they achieved set new standards and became a benchmark for artists throughout Europe. Many pictures in the collection depict both sides of life in a Dutch winter, revealing the hardships but also the beauty of everyday life.

The collection will be on view in 101 New Bond Street, London 21st-25th June and the sale takes place on 25th June at 2pm.