Follower of Sir Peter Paul Rubens

Marquess of Londonderry;
Jules Crombez, Tournai;
With Galerie van Diemen, Berlin, from whom acquired by August Neuerburg, Hamburg, in July 1927 for Mk. 30,000;
Thence by descent until offered, anonymous sale ("The Property of a Gentleman"), London, Christie's, 6 July 1984, lot 44, as by Rubens, where unsold;
Thence by inheritance.

M. Jaffé, "Rubens's Portrait of Nicolaas Rockox and Others", in Apollo, April 1984, pp. 275, 281 note 13, reproduced fig. 7, as by Rubens;
D. Jaffe, "Rubens back and front.  The case of the National Gallery Samson and Delilah", in Apollo, August 2000, p. 25, as by Rubens.

The colours are slightly warmer than the illustration suggests. The support consists of a single oak panel which is uncut, uncradled and perfectly flat. The painting is now dirty and its varnish layer discoloured but overall it appears to be in very good condition. There are no major damages and the paint surface appears free from wear. Under ultra violet light recent local retouchings are visible in the background centre left, lower centre and lower right, and beneath these a degree of older repair is also visible of similar nature in the background. Other interventions are limited to very minor local spot retouchings in the face and ruff. This lot is sold with later parcel gilt carved and gilt wood frame, with some minor chips and losses.
"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."

Though believed to be a Rubens by Wilhelm von Bode, Ludwig Burchard, Walter Valentiner and Michael Jaffé, and despite its most Rubens-like character and considerable quality, the traditional attribution of this spirited and freely painted portrait to Rubens can no longer be sustained.¹  We are grateful to Dr. Hans Vlieghe  for confirming this, and for suggesting a dating of circa 1615 or slightly earlier.

1.  Photostat certificates, available with this lot, record the views of the first three.  Von Bode endorsed Burchard's dating of it circa 1620-25, while Valentiner dated it about 1615.  Michael Jaffé suggested it was a posthumous commission to form part of a small epitaph to be seen from below.