Guiliam Gabron

With E. & A. Silberman, New York;
By whom anonymously sold, New York, Sotheby Parke-Bernet, Inc., 27 November 1968, lot 5, to Sidney Michael;
Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Michael;
By whom anonymously sold, New York, Sotheby's, 20 November 1980, lot 82, to Nevice International;
Nourallah Elghanayan;
By whom anonymously  sold, New York, Sotheby's, 16 May 1996, lot 88;
There purchased by the present collector.

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 has not been cleaned or restored for a number of years. It has an English glue lining from the mid 20th century. The paint layer is stable and the lining is sill effective. The texture of the paint is very well preserved, which is particularly evident in the elaborately painted rug. The paint layer is quite dirty and the ultraviolet light is not effective in identifying any of the retouching. However, it is likely that there are some retouches in the background in the upper left around the tassel. There are retouches in the two wine glasses in the upper center and some strengthening here to delineate these two elements which so often seem to deteriorate over time. Some of the glazes in the squirrel are a little weak and it is likely that there are a few retouches on the floor in the lower left. However, the condition of this painting is impressive and one should clean the picture without any fear of undetected restorations becoming apparent.
"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."

The present composition, Still Life with Fruit, Gold and Silver Vessels and a Squirrel is one of Gabron's later works, with its bright imagery and bold colors characteristic of the artist's mature style.  Born in Antwerp, he was exposed to the style of other Flemish Masters at an early age.  Enrolling in the Guild of St. Luke as a master in 1640/41, his early still lifes reflected the austerity and simplicity of the Haarlem style tradition.  However, following an extended trip to Italy, where he spent most of his time in Rome, the artist returned to Antwerp in 1660 having developed a more colorful palette, a strong shift from his earlier darker, monochromatic compositions.

A similar composition by the artist is in the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum in Brunswick (inv. no. 144).