Gerrit Adriaensz. Berckheyde Haarlem 1638 - 1698

Jean-Baptiste-Pierre Le Brun (1748-1813).

Galerie des peintres flamands, hollandais et allemands, Paris and Amsterdam 1792-96.

Engraved:
By R. Daudet, for Le Brun's Galerie, 1792

The painting is much warmer in tone than as shown in the catalogue illustration. The canvas has a fairly recent sympathetic relining which is sound. The paint surface is very well preserved but is covered by a thin layer of dirt and a discoloured, patchy varnsih and would therefore benefit from a light clean. There is a restored hole above the leftmost goat (1 by 1 cm) and two small narrow losses at the lower left corner (visible in the catalogue illustration). There is some restored damage to the extreme upper left vertical margin. Other than that, interference is minimal and inspection under ultra-violet light reveals only few and minor spot retouchings. Overall this painting survives in very good condition. Sold with a modern gilt wood frame, in good condition with a loss lower right. AF*
"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."

Berckheyde never visited Italy, and most of his southern landscapes such as this were of his own invention, and inspired by the second generation of italianate landscape painters in his native Haarlem. These views occasionally incorporated real topographical or architectural elements, many from studies made on his travels in Holland and Germany.

Jean-Baptiste-Pierre Le Brun (1748-1813) was an important French dealer and collector and the husband of the painter Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun. He served as Louis XVI's agent and was curator to the King's brother, Charles-Philippe de Bourbon, Comte d'Artois, later Charles X, and to Louis-Philippe Joseph, Duc d'Orléans (1747-93). A collector of note, his Galerie, published between 1792 and 1796, extolled the virtues of the northern schools and included many works, such as this, from his own private collection. This painting does not appear in the principal sale of his collection held between 20 and 24 March 1810.