Adriaen de Lelie Tilburg 1755 - 1820 Amsterdam

The actual painting is less red and softer in tone than the catalogue illustration suggests. The canvas is unlined. Stretcher marks are visible to the front. The paint surface is under a dull and dirty layer of varnish, and there's some surface dirt. There is a slightly coarse craquelure throughout which is slightly beginning to lift in some areas. There are a few tiny flecks of paint loss along the lower and left edges. However, the paint layer is well-preserved. Under Ultra-Violet light a few small scattered retouchings fluoresce, e.g. to the centre left, in the portrait upper right, in the sleeve of the standing figure, and in the drapery lower right. A larger area of retouching is revealed to the background centre right. Offered in a plain gilt wood frame, in fair condition. The other portraits are also slightly less red and softer in tone in real. All canvasses appear to be unlined, are a little wobbly and show stretcher marks to the front. In general, the paintings are in fair condition. Some are slightly more worn and have small damages, in particular the three portraits upper right, of which the upper male portrait has a vertical tear running through the centre, the female portrait has a few smaller tears and holes, and the male portrait centre left has a tiny hole in the face. The female portrait lower centre has some significant paint losses as well. All paint layers are in reasonable condition, and under a dull and very dirty layer of varnish, and surface dirt. All are offered in plain black parcel-gilt wood frames, with a few losses. (MW)
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Beeldsnijder family originally came from the eastern province of Gelderland, but in the 17th and 18th Century they were mainly active as merchants in Amsterdam. Both father and son in this painting occupied important positions, Johannes being bailiff of Diemen and alderman of Amsterdam and his son Gerard, lord of Voshol en Vrije Nes, was lieutenant of the National Guard, captain of the Civic Guard of Amsterdam and became a member of the Provinciale Staten, the provincial seat, of Utrecht in 1833, among other positions.

In this painting we see father and son sitting in a study which is richly decorated with portraits of their family and ancestors. The portrait of the lady hanging to the right below, is of Henriette Everdina Beeldsnijder (1771-1795), wife of Johannes and also painted by Adriaen de Lelie. The original is offered with the present lot. Portraits of her parents Wolfert Beeldsnijder (1740-1806) and Wilhelmina Françoise van Hoorn (1761-1817) are hanging above her and copies of these two portraits are offered with the present lot as well. Furthermore this lot is accompanied by individual portraits of Johannes, (a young and elderly version), of Gerard, of his wife Martina Adriana Maria van Toulon (1792-1880), and by a copy of the portrait in the far left corner, representing John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. The two pairs of 17th Century portraits in the centre represent Jan Beeldsnijder (1605-1659) and his wife Geertruida Steenbergen and Wijer Beeldsnijder (1611-1693) and his second wife Maria Rotterdam (1628-1671). Both original pairs were sold in these Rooms, 22 May 1990, lots 41 and 42.

The two portraits on the far left represent the ancestors Gerard Beeldsnijder (1648-1720) and his wife Johanna de Penijn (1650-1717), of which the originals will be sold in the forthcoming Old Master Paintings sale in these Rooms on 11 November 2008.

This lot is furthermore offered with a drawing by Hendrik Bout, commemorating Gerard Beeldsnijder, the grandfather of the elderly sitter in the present work.