Lot 551
  • 551

Jacob Maentel (1778-?)

Estimate
80,000 - 120,000 USD
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Description

  • Jacob Maentel
  • ELIZABETH HAAK and MICHAEL HAAK
  • Watercolor, gouache, ink, and pencil on paper
  • 17 by 10 3/4 in. each
  • 1830-1835

Provenance

Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, Cambridge, Maryland
Sotheby Parke-Bernet, "The Garbisch Collection, Volume II," April 27, 29-30, 1977, lots 411 and 412

Exhibited

On loan to New-York Historical Society from the Garbisch Collection, 1971-1977
"The Flowering of American Folk Art, 1776-1876," Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1974
"The All-American Dog: Man's Best Friend in Folk Art," American Folk Art Museum, 1977-78
"Hearth and Home: Architectural Selections from the Collection," New York, American Folk Art Museum, May 20-September 21, 2003

Literature

Bishop, Robert. The All-American Dog: Man's Best Friend in Folk Art, New York: Avon Books in association with American Folk Art Museum, 1978, pp. 34, 35
Kogan, Leeand Barbara Cate. Treasures of Folk Art: Museum of American Folk Art, New York: Abbeville Press in association with American Folk Art Museum, 1994, p. 26
Lipman, Jean and Alice Winchester. The Flowering of American Folk Art, 1776-1876, New York: Viking Press in association with Whitney Museum of American Art, 1974, p. 39
American Radiance: The Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum, pp. 38-39, figs. 13A-B

Condition

A small scrape and repaired tear above Mrs. Haak's head in window area and along right window frame. Vibrant colors.
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.

Catalogue Note

The portraits of Michael and Elizabeth Haak follow the format established by Jacob Maentel in the 1820s for treating subjects in interior settings. Each is portrayed on a separate sheet, and the interiors are virtually mirror images. The dominant features are the multimullioned windows and the large, fancy looking glasses with scenic views. The landscape with houses and trees that appears on the reverse-painted glass panel on each mirror is considerably closer to the picture plane in Mr. Haak's portrait, perhaps suggesting his proprietary interest in the homestead. The figures are shown in different poses, Mrs. Haak sitting in a slat-back Windsor side chair while Mr. Haak stands with one hand resting on the table, his pet dog looking up at him, and the identical chair off to the right side.

In general, the interior of the Haak home is more restrained in color and pattern than those seen in the portraits of the Bickels, Zimmermans, and Buchers (cat. nos. 13a-b, 14a-b, 15a-b). The walls are painted two colors but without any stenciled border or overall patterning. The floor is covered with a simple striped "Venetian" carpeting, and the stenciling on the chairs is less ornate than in the other pictures. When compared to the portraits of the Zimmermans, who seem confined within their surroundings, the Haaks appear more comfortably situated. The contrast of strong vertical and horizontal elements contributes to the feeling of greater space. The lower half of each composition is a series of horizontal thrusts: the dark tables blend into the dark walls behind and are emphasized by the bold striping on the rugs. At the same time, the tall windows and columned mirrors elevate the viewer's eyes to the top edge of the paper, creating a sense of greater height. -S.C.H.