Old Master Paintings from the Collection of Lillemor Herweg

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Lot 103
  • 103

Jan van Kessel the Elder Antwerp 1626 - 1679

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Description

  • Jan (II) van Kessel
  • A harbour scene with fish, crustaceans, tortoises and turtles and otters on a beach, a harbour beyond
  • signed and dated lower centre: I. V. KESSEL. F. 1660.
  • oil on copper laid on panel

Provenance

With de Vries, 1980, by whom sold to Robert Noortman, Maastricht;
From whom bought by the Herwegs shortly afterwards.

Catalogue Note

Van Kessel painted many similar scenes, which depict the element of water, but which may have been sold independently as well as in sets of Elements, and of the Four Continents.  Dated pictures of such subjects are known between 1659 and the late 1660s.  Most of them are on coppers of the same standard size; for a cogent discussion of them see F.G. Meijer, in L.M. Helmus (ed.), Fish.  Still lifes by Dutch and Flemish masters 1550-1700, exhibition catalogue, Utrecht 2004, pp. 241-3, nos. 14 & 15, where two excellent examples comparable to the present picture are reproduced.