- 335
Edwaert Collier
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 GBP
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Description
- Edwaert Collier
- A vanitas still life with books and leaflets, a globe, a princely flag, a musical score, musical instruments and an hourglass on a draped table with a silver tazza, coins, a watch and a purse
inscribed on a leaflet lower centre: WILHELMUS BY DER/GRATIE GODTS. PRINCE VAN OR/AENGIEN. GRAVE VAN NASSAU.& C/MARQUIZ VAN VEERE. EN VLISSINGE/ BARON VAN BREDA. GOUVER/NEUR OVER GELDERLANDT./HOLANDT./ZEELANDT.WEST/VRIESLANDT.&C GENERAEL/VAN DE RUYTERYE/1632 and inscribed on the book centre right: Aande geboorte.leven/...verleydinge vanden valschen/bedrieger/MACHOMET and on a leaflet upper right: VANITAS/VANITATUM/ET OMNIA /VANITAS
- oil on panel
Provenance
Lekanne Deprez, Oegstgeest, by 1962 (as Jan Davidsz. de Heem);
Private collection, Amstelveen;
Thence by descent until sold;
Amsterdam, Sotheby's, 14 November 2006, lot 62 for 180,000 euros.
Condition
The flat, stable support appears to consist of three horizontal panels, bevelled along the right and left margins and cradled to the reverse.
The paint surface is secure and the detail of the work is well-preserved. Some of the pigments in the painting, particularly the browns and whites, have become rather thin, though the painting does retain some impasto in the silver tazza and the jewellery.
No major damages to the work are apparent although the panel joins are visible in raking light. Some retouchings along these joins are visible to the naked eye, and retouchings are also visible along the right hand margin, around the sand timer and trophy upper right, the tazza centre right, and the jewellery box lower left. Two old restored splits to the panel, measuring approximately 12 cm. and 40 cm. are visible protruding horizontally from the lower right hand margin.
Inspection under UV light is impeded by the reflective varnish which covers the work, but does confirm the aforementioned retouchings and further reveals extensive retouchings to the central panel of the flag, the left hand background and some scattered retouchings elsewhere in the painting. The musical instruments and scores, jewellery and purse all remain mostly original.
Offered in a wooden frame in good condition.
"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 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 princely flag and the very specific text on the sheet of paper lower centre may indicate that this picture was painted as a commemoration of one of the Princes of Orange. Since the text is anachronistic, it may allude indirectly to the appointment of William III of Orange as a Stadtholder in the provinces Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Gelderland and Overijssel in 1672, 22 years after the office of Stadtholder was suspended upon the death of his father William II, the so-called Stadhouderloze Tijdperk. If so, it can be considered as a relatively early work, when the artist was still living in Leiden.