Mathys Schoevaerdts

Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 23 March 1910, lot 55, as 'M. Schoevaerdts', for £9,196 to Metchkovsky (?);
With Galerie de Jonckheere, Brussels.

Y. Thiery, Les peintres flamands de paysage au XVIIIe siècle, Le baroque anversois et l'école bruxelloise, Bruxelles 1987, pp. 22-3, both reproduced in colour.

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The copper panels are in good condition and the paint layers are stable The mid and fore grounds of both paintings are in good condition. The skies on both, however, show evidence of restoration mostly to reduce the prevalence of the pale ochre ground showing through rather than covering paint loss or damage. I would, therefore, suggest that some of this restoration is unnecessary. Both have discoloured and degraded varnishes , their removal would enhance the overall tonality. Modern dark wood frames-good condition"
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

The pupil of Adriaen Frans Boudewyns, Schoevaerdts was a prolific landscape painter and active principally in Brussels, where he became master of the Guild of painters in 1690. From 1692 to 1696 he served as dean of the Guild there. His paintings, of which these meticulously executed works are highly typical, are strongly influenced by those of his Flemish predecessors from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, Jan Brueghel the Elder and Paul Bril. His landscapes are often confused with those of Pieter Bout and Adrian Frans Boudewyns, their styles being virtually indistinguishable from each other, and indeed Schoevaerdts often collaborated with both these artists, painting the staffage for their landscapes.