Johan Thopas

With Lodewijk Houthakker, Amsterdam;
sale, Amsterdam, Sotheby's, 11 November 1997, lot 106

S.A.C. Dudok van Heel, Van Amsterdamse burgers tot Europesche aristrocraten, The Hague 2008, Vol. II, p. 579, fig. 391;
P. van den Brink, 'Tussen Rembrandt en Rubens. Jacob Adriaensz Backer als portret- en historieschilder in Amsterdam,' Kroniek van het Rembrandthuis, forthcoming (to be published early 2014)

Attached by margins to backing board around all four edges. Some light abrasions but general condition good. Sold in a large and elaborate, modern 17th-century-style 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. 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."

This portrait of Dirck Jacobsz. Bas (1569-1637) belongs to a series of similar works by Thopas, which has been dubbed the ‘Kerckerinck Series,’ named after the portrait of Godert Dircksz. Kerckerinck, sold in these Rooms last year.¹ Other drawings from the series, all depicting important Amsterdam citizens, are in the Albertina (three portraits, of Albert Bas, Mathias Bode and Theodor Kerckerinck), the Rijksprentenkabinet (Petronella van Roy Livini) and the Courtauld Institute (Elisabeth Bas).  The series dates from around 1650, and all are drawn copies after existing portraits, the sitters in many cases long deceased.  Dirck Jacobsz. Bas was one of the founders of the VOC (Dutch East India Company), was twelve times Burgomaster of Amsterdam, deputy in the States General, and was knighted by King Gustav Adolf of Sweden in 1616, because of his role in the peace negotiations between Sweden and Russia.  The model for the drawing by Thopas is a painting by Jacob Backer in the Michaelis collection in Cape Town, which, like the present drawing, can be dated shortly after 1645. 

The designs for the elaborate drawn frames seen on the drawings in this series, and others by Thopas, have sometimes been credited to the silversmith, Jan Lutma, but are likely by Thopas himself. 

We are very grateful to Peter van den Brink for kindly sharing with us the above information, which he will publish in a forthcoming article (see Literature).

1.  London, Sotheby's, 4 July 2012, lot 117