Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem Haarlem 1620 - 1683 Amsterdam

Joseph Barchard Collection;
John Webb Collection;
His sale, London, Phillips, 10-12 June 1829, for £96 12s. (all according to Hofstede de Groot, see Literature);
Lord Northwick collection, by 1834;
His deceased sale, Thirlestaine House, Cheltenham, Phillips, 26 July 1859, lot 41, for £409 10s. to John Hardy;
Ralph, Earl of Lovelace (1839-1906), Ockham Park, Surrey;
His deceased sale, London, Christie's, 12 January 1942, lot 49.

J. Smith, A Catalogue Raisonné..., vol. V, London 1834, p. 63, no. 189 (as a view near Celano);
J. Smith, Supplement to the Catalogue Raisonné..., London 1842, p. 611, no. 51;
C. Hofstede de Groot, Beschreibendes und Kritisches..., vol. IX, London 1926, p. 82, no. 111 (as a view near Celano).
 

The painting is slightly more contrasted in tone than it appears in the catalogue illustration. The canvas has a relatively old relining and the paint surface appears quite recently cleaned. There is a visible craquelure pattern throughout, more obvious in raking light. The paint appears thin in the sky and background where there is the dark blue pigment, particularly above and around the figures in the centre and centre right. The landscape on the horizon also appears rather worn. These areas may have been affected by the blue pigment which seems to have altered: her dress also appears slightly oxidised. Some discoloured retouchings are visible along the upper edge, particularly in the sky upper left (1-3 by 15cm.) and further scattered retouchings occur upper centre and upper right, partially painting out craquelure. Despite the sky and background being quite substantially retouched, the foreground landscape, the trees and foliage at left, and the figures and cattle in the foreground all appear to have survived rather well. Inspection under ultra-violet light reveals a tiny spot of retouching on the girl's left eye and other minor localised strengthening on the figures and animals, but none of these are very significant. The old carved and ungilded wood frame has some chips and repairs throughout but is generally sound.
"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."