- 15
Pieter Holsteyn the Elder
Estimate
7,000 - 9,000 GBP
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Description
- Pieter Holsteyn the Elder
- a sheet of studies of butterflies, moths and beetles, including a blue rhinoceros beetle and a grasshopper
Gouache and grey wash, with touches of gum arabic, on vellum, within parital black ink framing lines;
signed in grey ink: PHolsteÿn fecit;
bears two old labels on reverse of frame, inscribed: Penige Europiso [?], Capellen/en Forme X and P:Holsteyn Fecit/1610
Condition
Framed. The margins attached at the verso to strips of paper from a previous mount. The sheet may have been cut slightly at the top, as the framing lines is lost. Otherwise in excellent condition.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Holsteyn made a great speciality of natural history drawings, but almost all his watercolours of this type depict individual birds, mammals and flowers. His extremely rare composite sheets of studies of insects such as this are amongst his most accomplished works. Only two such sheets have been sold in recent times. One, unsigned, was in the Dreesman Collection sale (London, Christie's, 11 April 2002, lot 698). The other, signed and dated 1636, was sold London, Christie's, 6 July 1999, lot 225. The latter included the same fearsome rhinoceros beetle with bright blue shoulders that we see here, but the present work is larger and more elaborate still, depicting a wide range of other visually striking insects. Beautifully composed and superbly preserved, it is one of the most impressive of all the artist's known drawings.