Lot 68
  • 68

Nicolaes Maes

Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 EUR
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Description

  • Nicolaes Maes
  • Portrait of a lady, seated three-quarter length, wearing a red dress with a white chemise and pearl jewellery
  • bears inscription upper left: Henrietta Duchess of Orleans/ Died 19th: June 1670.
  • oil on canvas

Provenance

James, Earl of Fife, Duff House, Banffshire, late 18th Century;
By descent to the Duke of Fife, K.T.;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 7 June 1907, lot 94, for £68.5 to Hamburger;
Gustaaf and Clara Hamburger, Laren;
Spoliated by the Nazi authorities during the German occupation of the Netherlands;
Stichting Nederlands Kunstbezit, no. 2844;
Restituted by the above and thence by descent to the previous owner;
By whom sold, Amsterdam, Christie's, 6 May 2008, lot 51. 

Condition

The actual painting is warmer in tone than the catalogue illustration suggests. The canvas has an old stable relining. The paint surface is under a dirty and milky layer of varnish. There's a fine craquelure throughout which is slightly beginning to lift in the lower foreground, and there's a tiny fleck of paint loss in this area. A few very tiny retouched paint losses are visible in her dress, in the background upper left, in the left wrist, but otherwise, the paint surface is in good condition. Inspection under UV light confirms the aforesaid, but reveals no further retouchings. Offered in a large decorative gilt plaster and wood frame with a few minor paint 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."

Catalogue Note

The attribution to Nicolaes Maes is confirmed by Dr León Krempel, who dates the picture to circa 1685-90.