Adriaen Jansz. van Ostade

The Marquess of Lansdowne,
his sale, London, Sotheby's, 25 March 1920, lot 43; 
Philip Hofer;
by descent until sale, London, Sotheby's, 6 July 1992, lot 77, where bought by the present owner

Unframed. Generally in very good condition. Chalk very fresh. Two creases running vertically: one from the head to the centre of the face, the other, very slight, at the upper part of the head. These appear to be defects in the paper rather than later damage. The original is much stronger than the catalogue illustration and the chalk much warmer and more intense.
"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."

At the time of the 1992 sale, Dr. Berhard Schnackenburg confirmed that this exceptionally refined chalk study is "a beautiful work by Adriaen van Ostade", of a type very rare within the artist's oeuvre.  Three comparable examples, one of them a preparatory study for an etching, are in the British Museum¹; Dr. Schnackenburg dates these drawings to the 1650s.

The great majority of Ostade's surviving drawings are either boldly executed pen and wash studies of his characteristic peasants and interiors, or elaborate finished watercolours.  Much rarer are his superbly modelled chalk drawings, some of which are in black chalk on blue paper,² others in the present combination of black and red chalk.  It is in these drawings more than any others that Ostade's highly sophisticated touch and sense of lighting, and also his gift for capturing the character of people he depicts, are most abundantly clear. 

1. B. Schnackenburg, Adriaen van Ostade, Isack van Ostade, Zeichnungen und Aquarelle, Hamburg 1981, nos. 81, 113, 114
2. For example the sheet formerly in the Van Regteren Altena Collection, sold, Amsterdam, Sotheby's, 8 November 2000, lot 50