Studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck

With Goudstikker, Amsterdam, 1929, no. 2359;
Dr, Frölich, Vienna, by 1930;
M. Marcel Leclereq Masival, Roubaise (according to a label and wax seal on the reverse).

Amsterdam, J. Goudstikker, Catalogue des Nouvelle Acquisitions, Nov-Dec 1929, cat. no. 8;
Vienna, Wiener Secession, Drei Jahrhunderte Vlamische Kunst, 11 January - 2 March 1930, cat. no. 77.

G. Glück in Jahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen in Wien, III, 1929, p. 259;
G. Glück, Klassiker der Kunst. Van Dyck, New York 1931, p. 22, reproduced, and p. 520;
M. Jaffé, "A Vanitas by Van Dyck", in Apollo, January 1979, pp. 38-40;
E. Larsen, The Paintings of Anthony van Dyck, Freren 1988, vol. II, p. 129, cat. no. 315, reproduced (all the above as by Van Dyck).

The stable, flat support appears to consist of three vertical panels, cradled to the reverse. The paint surface is secure, if a little dirty, with some original areas of impasto intact. The brown tones of the background are seemingly abraded, but it could be that the paint was originally thinly applied. The full length of the left hand panel join and the bottom 15cm. of the right hand panel join are visible due to discoloured retouchings. There is an old, restored horizontal surface scratch approximately 5cm. in length centre right and some unevenness to the paint surface in the upper right with an area of approx 3cm2 where it seems the restoration work to the knocked corner has come off, leaving the original background wash on show. Inspection under UV light confirms these retouchings and further reveal some fairly extensive retouchings to the background and scattered strengthenings to the putti figures, in particular adding definition to the arm lower right, the shadowed side of the putti on the right and the abdomen and right arm of the left hand putti. Offered in an ornate gilt wood and plaster frame in fairly 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."

Glück and Larsen (see Literature) considered this work the study for the more finished painting in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, which until Glück's publication had been attributed to Rubens.