Adriaen van Ostade

Mr. and Mrs. Stig Host, Greenwich, Connecticut;
Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 4 June 1980, lot 163;
With David Koetser, Zurich;
With Kunsthandel K. & V. Waterman, Amsterdam;
From whom acquired by the present owners in 1983.

Providence, Rhode Island, Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, on loan from the Hascoe Collection, 1984-2008.

Panel is uncradled. there is overall very good retention of the paint surface with nice detail in figures. a small scratch with some loss can be seen at upper center edge. under ultraviolet: upper portion of painting fluoresces but this does not appear to be due to overpainting, but due to selective cleaning. there does appear to be a small retouch in center background to right of vertical wood beam and a few very small ones scattered on figures. In a carved dark wood frame.
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.

We are grateful to Dr. Bernhard Schnackenburg who has confirmed the attribution of the present painting to Adriaen van Ostade.  Dr. Schnackenburg dates the work to the earliest period of Ostade's career.  In one of his earliest articles on the artist, Dr. Schnackenburg published a similar tavern scene, dated 1632 (B. Schnackenburg, "Die Anfänge des Bauerninterieurs bei Adriaen van Ostade," in Oud Holland 1970, p. 159, reproduced fig. 3).