Follower of Sir Anthony van Dyck

Earl of Sheffield;
Anonymous Sale, London, Christie's, 25 November 1911, lot 117 (unsold);
Parkenthorpe, London, 1912;
Anonymous Sale, New York, Anderson Galleries, 15 May 1935, lots 1195-96;
There purchased by Mrs. Whitelaw Reid;
Mrs. Elinor Dorrance Hill, Newport, Rhode Island;
By whom given to the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum, Hartford, Connecticut;
By whom sold (Property from the Wadsworth Atheneum) New York, Christie's, 25 May 1999, lot 81 (as Workshop of van Dyck);
There purchased by the present owner.

Egbert Haverkamp-Begemann (ed.), Wadsworth Atheneum Paintings, Catalogue I: The Netherlands and the German-speaking Countries, 1978, pp. 134-135, nos. 44-5, plates 37-8;
S.J. Barnes, N. De Poorter, O. Millar and H. Vey, Van Dyck. A Complete Catalogue of the Paintings, London 2004, p. 234, under cat. no. IV.53.

Both canvases are relined and stable, the male figure has a repaired damage running downward from the upper edge and the female figure has two repaired tears to the lower left section. The paint surface is stable though somewhat flattened under an old, uneven varnish. Both have suffered some abrasion, particularly the costume of the male figure, though this does not affect the reading of the paintings and the images remain impressive. Inspection under UV reveals extensive retouching throughout, particularly to the male figure though the faces appear to remain largely untouched. Both offered in carved gilt wood frames.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

These paintings are studio versions of the portraits now in the Collection of H.M. the Queen at Windsor Castle, and in the Hermitage, St. Petersburg, respectively.