Carel Beschey

In the collection of the family of the present owners since at least 1896.

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. Both oak panels are in a very good flat condition. The paint layer to the skaters is stable and flat but that to the summer landscape is raised and unstable and there is evidence of restored paint loss , particularly in the sky and lower left by the dogs. Both paintings have thinly applied paint and , due to slight wear in isolated areas, a small amount of strengthening has been carried out. One or two small losses can be detected in the sky of the skaters but, otherwise, it is in very good condition. The condition of the summer landscape is also good but the instability of the surface has necessitated more intervention. Both paintings have discoloured varnishes and their removal would improve the tonality. Offered in carved gilt wood frames, both with some damage."
"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."

Like those of his contemporaries Theobald Michau and Josef Bredael, the majority of Beschey's landscapes rely heavily on those of Jan Brueghel the Elder from the beginning of the seventeenth century.  His few winter landscapes, however, display a greater independence.  Beschey was helped in finding patrons and buyers for his paintings by his younger brother, Balthasar; an art dealer and portraitist who became a very influential figure in artistic life in Antwerp.  At his house fellow art lovers regularly met to study the work of the great Dutch and Flemish masters.

Intact signed pairs of summer and winter landscapes by Beschey are today extremely rare, although a similar pair, of slightly larger dimensions, was sold Amsterdam, Sotheby's, 8 May 2007, lot 5 (for €380,000). A secondary version of the present winter landscape was sold Monaco, Sotheby's, 2 July 1993, lot 61, and similar winter landscapes by the artist were sold in these Rooms, 27 April 2006, lot 17 (for £120,000), and London, Phillips, 9 December 1986, lot 48 (£55,000).