Lot 16
  • 16

FOLLOWER OF FRANS POURBUS THE YOUNGER | Portrait of Albert VII, Archduke of Austria (1559–1621)

Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Portrait of Albert VII, Archduke of Austria (1559–1621)
  • Unframed: 75 x 60 cm.; 29 1/2  x 23 5/8  in. Framed: 90.5 x 75.3 cm.; 35 5/8 x 29 5/8 in.
oil on canvas The present work is a copy after a workshop version of Pourbus' full-length portrait of Albert VII – the original by the master is in The Convent of Las Descalzas Reales, Madrid,1 and the workshop version is in The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, datable to 'circa' 1600 (inv. no. SK-A-509).2 Albert VII was the ruling Archduke of Austria for a few months in 1619 and, jointly with his wife, Isabella Clara Eugenia, sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1598 and 1621. He succeeded his brother Matthias as reigning archduke of Lower and Upper Austria, but abdicated in favour of Ferdinand II the same year, making it the shortest reign in Austrian history. 1 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Albert_VII,_Archduke_of_Austria_(Monastery_of_Las_Descalzas_Reales_(Madrid)#/media/File:0_L%27archiduc_Albert_de_Habsbourg_-_Frans_Pourbus_le_Jeune_(1).JPG 2 https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-509 

Condition

All paintings available to view at the Sotheby’s Greenford Park warehouse, 5 - 7 and 10 – 13 September (10 - 4pm), by appointment. The canvas has a firm relining, the paint surface is quite dirty and the varnish discoloured. The canvas shows evidence of slight wear throughout, there is a small surface scratch, centre left, and there are visible retouchings throughout the sitter's face. Inspection under ultraviolet light confirms this, as well as further retouchings in his armour and lace collar, and a few scattered in the background.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.