Antwerp School, circa 1650

Collections of the Dukes of Sutherland;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 26 June 1962, lot 12 (as by Adriaen van Utrecht).

Wiesbaden, Museum Wiesbaden, 5 Sammler - 5 Meinungen, 8 April - 27 May 1973 (as by Adriaen van Utrecht).

The actual painting is slightly less bright than the catalogue illustration suggests. The canvas is relined. The paint surface is somewhat flattened, but overall in good condition, no damages are visible to the naked eye. Stretcher marks are slightly visible to the front as well as some spots of discoloured retouchings in the upper background and lower right. The paint surface is under a dirty and discoloured varnish layer. Inspection under UV-light confirms the aforesaid and reveals retouchings in the area of the glasses to the right, in the basket with grapes and melon, a few minor spots in the lobster, the fruit in the centre and in the white cloth of the bread basket. The two birds are well preserved. Offered in a gilt wood frame, in fair condition, but with a few chips. (JD)
"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.
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Although this elaborate still life clearly shows the influence of artists active in Antwerp in the middle of the 17th Century, the painter must for now remain anonymous. The basket of fruit in the upper left corner is undoubtly reminiscent of works by Frans Snyders (1579-1657), as is the depiction of the lobster in the bowl, together with the dead game. Compare, for example, Snyders' works in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (inv. no. 2209) and in the Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte, Münster (inv. no. 1541 LG).¹ The attribution to Adriaen van Utrecht (1599-1652) in the 1973 exhibition is also not surprising as this Antwerp painter was also known to have painted still lifes in a similar style. This attribution however can no longer be sustained.

1. See H. Robels, Frans Snyders, Stilleben- und Tiermaler 1579-1657, Munich 1989, pp. 217-8, 224, cat. nos. 56 and 64.