Hendrick Maertensz. Sorgh

Dr. Gottschewski, Amsterdam;
With Galerie Dr. Schäffer, Berlin, June 1932;
With D. Katz, Dieren, where bought by the father of the present owner in 1933.

Berlin, Galerie Dr. Schäffer, Die Meister des holländischen Interieurs, April – May 1929, no. 83;
Zutphen, Stedelijk Museum van Zutphen en de Graafschap, Tentoonstelling van schilderijen door 17e eeuwsche nederlandsche schilders, uit de collectie van de Firma D. Katz te Dieren, 13 – 30 July 1933, no. 19.

L.T. Schneeman, Hendrick Martensz. Sorgh: A painter of Rotterdam, doctoral diss., Pennsylvania State University 1982, p. 239, cat. no. 88.

The support consists of a single uncut and uncradled oak panel which is perfectly flat. The painting is now a little dirty and has a thick layer of slightly dulled varnish. The paint surface is generally in excellent overall condition, with no signs of any major damage of repair. There is a very small 2 cm oblique surface split in the centre of the upper edge. Inspection under ultra violet light is impeded to some extent by the varnish, but some old restoration is visible, chiefly in the background. There are small repaired old losses or damages on the woman's red dress and the fireplace on the left, above the doorway in the centre and an area of repaint around a larger (2x 2 cm) old loss (?) to the right of the doorway. Other intervention seems to be confined to minor local retouchings to background details; the principal figures and all the kitchen accoutrements are beautifully preserved with all their details intact. Sold with a later gilt wood frame in the French style, various minor losses of gilt and chips.
"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."

Sorgh seems quite regularly to have incorporated religious scenes into domestic interiors such as this. Another treatment of the Supper at Emmaus painted by Sorgh in the same year, 1649, was sold London, Christie's, 5 July 1991, lot 59.