Cornelis Dusart

Frans van de Velde, sa vente, Amsterdam, Ploos van Amstel…Schut, 16 janvier 1775 ff, kb F, lot n°315 (acheté par Metaves (?)) ;
Probablement Juda van Benjamin, Sr. , sa vente, Amsterdam, Smit, 4 novembre 1782, kb B, lot n°57 ;
D. van Dyl, sa vente, Amsterdam, Vinkeles, 10 janvier 1814 ff, kb D, lot n°25 ;
Le Marquis Charles de Valori (L.2500), sa vente Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 25-26 novembre 1907, lot n°52 (acheté par Bredeliedre) ;
Emile Joseph-Rignault (L.2218), sa vente, Paris, 26 mai 1937, lot n°49

The vellum support is attached in various places around the edges to a heavy paper backing (presumably to help keep it flat). There is some buckling of the vellum surface, especially lower right, but overall the support and the medium are in good, fresh condition. There is some breaking up into granules of the blue and green pigments of the waistcoat, but in general the colours are strong and fresh. Some very mino, light spotting throughout. Sold in a tortoiseshell-effect Dutch style 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."

Cette œuvre fait partie d’un petit groupe de cinq importantes et tardives aquarelles de Dusart représentant des figures d’homme assis en train de lire. Deux d’entre elles sont datées respectivement 1690 et 1699, dont l’une a appartenue à Gebr. Douwes, Amsterdam (1974) et l’autre a été vendue par C.G. Boerner à Leipzig (9-10 mai 1930, lot n°133). Les deux autres oeuvres connues de ce type, datées de 1688, sont conservées respectivement à Francfort ( Städel, inv. 3689) et à Haarlem (Teylers museum, inv. n° S 20).

Il est intéressant de constater que la manchette du journal que l’homme tient titre « News from England », 1688 étant l’année où le roi hollandais Guillaume III d’Orange avait réclamé avec succès le trône d’Angleterre, dans la période connue comme « La Glorieuse Révolution ».

Nous sommes très reconnaissants au Dr. Susan Anderson de nous avoir renseigné sur la provenance de cette œuvre.

This is one of a small group of some five important late watercolours by Dusart that depict single seated male figures reading. Two, dated 1690 and 1699, were, respectively, formerly with Gebr. Douwes in Amsterdam (1974) and sold by C.G. Boerner in Lieipzig (9-10 May 1930, lot 133), while the other two known works of this type – both, like this, dated 1688 – are in Frankfurt (Städel, inv 3689) and Haarlem (Teylers Museum, inv. N° S 20).

It is amusing that the headline on the newspaper that the man is reading is ‘..News from England’, as 1688 was the year when the Dutch King William III successfully claimed the English throne, in what is known as the ‘Glorious Revolution.’

We are most grateful to Dr. Susan Anderson for providing the early provenance for this drawing.