Studio of Jan van Kessel the Elder

All four copper panels are flat and stable. The paint surface in each appears in excellent condition, with the paint well preserved and the colours bright and clear. The old varnish fluoresces rather unevenly, but inspection under ultra-violet light reveals only scattered local repairs or strengthenings, for example (clockwise A-D) to the upper left background in B, the guinea pig and an old diagonal 2cm scrape upper right in C, to the background upper left and a small damage lower left in D. The varnish remains quite clear but is now a little uneven. Offered with later gilt wood frames with laurel bunch mouldings, some minor damages.
"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."

Typical of the studio of Jan van Kessel the Elder, these pictures show several motifs used in other works that have been previously given to the master. Most notably the deer recurs in a work that was with the Galerie d'Art Saint Honoré, Paris, in 2000.¹ The cabbage is also found in a still life that was with the same gallery in 2004.² Although Klaus Ertz attributes these types of works to Jan Kessel the Younger (1654-1708), Fred G. Meijer of the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie tends to favour an attribution to an unknown hand working in the studio of Jan van Kessel the Elder, possibly to be identified as Ferdinand van Kessel (1648-after 1696). A pair of coppers, catalogued as Studio of Jan van Kessel the Elder, similar in size and conception to the present works, made £70,000 when they were sold London, Christie's, 3 December 2008, lot 142.

1. See K. Ertz & C. Nite-Ertz, Die Maler, Jan van Kessel, Lingen 2012, p. 426, cat. no. 103, reproduced.
2. Ibid, p. 424, cat no. 96, reproduced.