Jacob Fransz. van der Merck

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This work on oak panel has not been reinforced on the reverse. The panel is flat and the paint layer is stable. The painting is quite dirty and will respond well to cleaning. There do not seem to be any notable restorations. There is very slight thinness in some of the shadowed parts of the perch and fruit, but the condition is extremely good in general. This is a picture that will improve noticeably once it cleaned.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Van der Merck executed this particular composition on a few occassions. One such version, with a bushel of grapes in lieu of citrus fruit, was formerly with Rafael Valls, London.  

We are grateful to Fred Meijer of the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie for confirming the attribution to van der Merck, based on photographs.