NICOLAES MAES | PORTRAIT OF MARIA VON TOREP, DAME VON QUADT-WYKRADT (1615 – 1654), HALF-LENGTH, DRESSED IN BLACK VELVET BEFORE A SUNSET LANDSCAPE

Anonymous sale, Amsterdam, Paul Brandt, 4–6 April 1975, lot 11, when acquired.

Münster, LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, on loan, 1976–78;

Liesborn, Museum Abtei Liesborn, on loan;

Rotterdam, Kunsthal, At Home in the Golden Age, 9 February – 18 May 2008, no. 155;

Hamburg, Bucerius Kunst Forum, Die Geburt des Kunstmarktes. Rembrandt, Ruisdael, van Goyen und die Künstler des Goldenen Zeitalters, 23 September 2017 – 7 January 2018, no. 13.

The SØR Rusche Collection has been exhibited extensively over the last two decades. Please click here for further information.

B. Lymant, Niederländische Malerei des 17. Jahrhunderts, vol. 1: Porträt, Liesborn 1985, pp. 20–21, reproduced;

H.-J. Raupp (ed.), Portraits. Niederländische Malerei des 17. Jahrhundert der SØR Rusche Sammlung, vol. I, Münster 1995, p. 100, cat. no. 36, reproduced in colour;

W. Pijbes, M. Aarts, M. J. Bok et al., At Home in the Golden Age, exh. cat., Zwolle 2008, p. 139, cat. no. 155, reproduced in colour;

F.W. Kaiser and M. North, Die Geburt des Kunstmarktes. Rembrandt, Ruisdael, van Goyen und die Künstler des Goldenen Zeitalters, exh. cat., Munich 2017, p. 36, cat. no. 13, reproduced in colour.

The canvas is lined. The paint surface is clean with a clear and even varnish. There are no major damages visible to the naked eye - bar a few surface scratches and scuffs. There is a degree of wear visible in the flesh tones particularly in the hair, face and flesh tones. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals two campaigns of restoration under a fairly opaque varnish - the earlier campaign seems to have focused mainly on the sitters face and flesh tones and the base of the classical column to the sitters right in which there are areas of localized retouchings. The later restoration consists of scattered retouching throughout the background and handful to her dress which otherwise remains fairly untouched.

In overall fair condition.

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.