Circle of Sir Anthony van Dyck

Hamilton Palace Collection (according to an old label on the reverse);
Anonymous sale, New York Sotheby Parke-Bernet, 3 December 1974, lot 5;
Where acquired by the present owner.

The canvas has an old glue relining, the paint surface overall is stable under a slightly uneven varnish, with scattered retouchings some of which, such as on the head and neck of the dog, are visible to the naked eye. There are minor losses in the body of the dog and in the upper right hand corner to to frame abrasion. Inspection under ultra violet reveals localized retouchings in the upper left hand corner, a thin line of restoration on the left side, from just below the figure's shoulder to below his elbow. There is some retouching to the feather and the figure's face and areas of repainting to the right hand and further patches in the tapestry upper right and to the gown lower center. The painting would benefit from a light re-varnish though is over all in good condition. It is offered in a carved gilt wood frame.
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.

This work is a copy after van Dyck's portrait of Prince Willem of Orange (1626 - 1650), now in the Schloss Mosigkau Collection, Dessau.  The eldest child of Prince Frederik Hendrik of Orange and Amalia van Solms, Willem married Mary, daughter of King Charles I in London in 1641.  The Princes of Orange arms can be seen in the tapestry to the right and the child stands symbolically beside an orange tree.  The prime version was likely painted between 1631 and 1633 when the Prince was approximately five years of age.¹

1.  S.J. Barnes, N. De Poorter, O. Millar and H. Vey, Van Dyck, A Complete Catalogue of the Paintings, New Haven and London 2004, pp. 339-40, cat no. III.114.