Studio of Jan van Kessel the Elder

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. These paintings on copper are both in very fresh condition. They have not been restored for a number of years and in their beautiful frames, they could be restored well. The copper is flat for the most part and neither picture appears to have developed any worrying flaking. Each composition is extremely dirty. The composition with the basket of strawberries has a couple of unfilled losses in the background and beneath the tabletop. Overall however, the condition in this picture and in the other is extremely good. Cleaning will produce a considerably sharper image and although it is possible that there are retouches beneath some varnish, it seems unlikely.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

This pair of paintings, and others by the same hand, have traditionally been ascribed to Jan van Kessel the Younger (Antwerp 1654-1708).  Fred Meijer of the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie, The Hague, believes this group may be by an as yet unidentified hand working in the studio of Jan van Kessel the Elder, possibly his son Ferdinand van Kessel (Antwerp 1648-1696 Breda).