Frans van Mieris the Younger

With D. Katz, Dieren;
With St. Lucas, The Hague, by 1951;
A.J. Boer;
Anonymous sale, Amsterdam, Mak van Waay, 24 March 1953, lot 88;
Offered, London, Sotheby's, 8 July 1992, lot 83;
With Gebr. Douwes, by 1997;
Anonymous sale, Amsterdam, Glerum, 13 November 2005, lot 44.

Delft, Oude Kunst- en Antiekbeurs der Vereniging van Handelaren in Oude Kunst in Nederland, 1951 (with A.J. Boer).

The catalogue illustration is representative for the actual painting. The flat single panel is bevelled on all sides and in good condition. A few tiny surface scratches are visible in the centre. The paint surface is under a clear layer of varnish. Some small scattered retouchings are visible to the naked eye, e.g. above the boy's head, in the upper background, in the lower foreground, in the curtain, chair and cupboard bed. Overall, the paint surface appears in very good condition. Inspection under UV light remains inconclusive due to the varnish. Offered in a later parcel gilt wood frame with scroll leaf decoartions in the corners.
"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 this charming interior scene Van Mieris the Younger shows himself an accomplished follower of both his father Willem van Mieris (1662-1747) and his famous grandfather Frans van Mieris the Elder (1635-1681). This painting, which was painted well into the 18^th Century, illustrates how Van Mieris the Younger convincingly carried on the tradition of the Leiden Fijnschilders, both in subject matter and in execution. Although his compositions are not always as spirited and refined as those of his father and grandfather, in this painting the soft modelling of the figures, the pastel colour palette and the attention to the different materials and textures, attest to the painter's own artistic skills.

The domestic setting gives the spectator an enjoyable insight into a typical Dutch family home, with the typically Dutch cupboard-bed in the background, the birdcage, and the numerous beautifully observed objects on the floor and on the table. The barn interior with the drunken peasants on the back wall should evidently be read as a direct reference to the celebrated Dutch painters of the 17^th Century.