Dutch School, 17th Century

With F.A.C. Prestel, Frankfurt, before 1908 (L.2730)

Window mounted. paper a little discoloured, with light brown mark near all four edges from former mount. Light grey stain in lower left corner. Watercolour and gouache itself good and fresh.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This drawing and the following lot belong to a long-standing Dutch tradition of natural history drawing.  Not surprisingly, given the great Dutch maritime tradition and dependence on the sea, depictions of fish have always been popular with Dutch artists, from the very beginning of the 17th century.  A celebrated example is Hendrik Goltzius' spectacular drawing of a John Dory, in the Teylers Museum, Haarlem,¹ and fine drawings of fish by Adriaan Matham, rather similar in style to this, also featured in the encyclopaedic drawing collections of Laurens van der Hem.²  

1.  See Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617), Drawings, Prints and Paintings, exhib. cat., Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum et al., 2003-4, p. 181, cat. 64
2.  See Een Wereldreiziger op Papier, De atlas van Laurens van der Hem (1621-1678), exhib. cat., Amsterdam, Koninklijk Paleis, 1992, p. 140