Flemish School, mid-17th century

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. This painting on copper has been fairly recently restored and if the varnished were to be freshened, it could be hung as is. The copper is flat and only in the lower left corner is it slightly dented. The paint layer is clean and varnished. Under ultraviolet light, the retouches are not easy to pin point. The elements of the still life, the open window and the animals and seem to be very healthy. There is most likely some weakness to the background, particularly on the left side and possibly around the duck in the lower right. However, the restoration has been very accurate and diligent and the condition is good.
"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 painting, 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).