Attributed to Frans de Neve

Scudamore Griffiths (1868–1968), Bedfont House, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, by whom bought shortly after the First World War.

The canvas has been relined, which has resulted in a flattened surface. The paint surface is secure and clean, barring some slight discoloration in the sky and clouds at the upper left, perhaps due to a dirty varnish. The colours remain strong. Few small scattered retouchings can be seen at the lower centre and right edge. A retouching is visible in the lower left corner. A horizontal retouching to a repaired tear, measuring approximately 2 cm, can be seen in the trunk of the largest tree. Two very small retouchings are visible in the upper part of the trunk of the tree second in at the right. Inspection under ultraviolet light an even varnish and very few very small scattered retouchings in the drapery of Narcissus. Overall the retouchings are very few and minor. The work is offered in a gilt molded frame in good condition.
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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."

A painter and etcher of figure and landscape subjects, Frans de Neve was a master in Antwerp in 1629. Between 1660–66 he was in Rome, where he made paintings for the Palazzo Doria-Pamphili and was a member of the Dutch Schildersbent. While in Rome, Neve designed 14 etchings of classical landscapes with mythological and pastoral figures, after his own designs. One of the best of these depicts the same composition as the present painting, in reverse (see fig. 1).¹ Another painting of slightly larger dimensions, given to Frans II, is in the collection at Christ Church, Oxford, and has been executed in the same direction as the print (see fig. 2).² It is difficult to determine whether the artist made the etching after his own painting, or whether he repeated the etched composition in small cabinet pictures, such as this one.

1. See The Illustrated Bartsch, New York 1979, vol. V, p. 151, cat. no. 14.
2. See J. Byam Shaw, Painting by Old Masters at Christ Church Oxford, Oxford 1967, p. 128, cat. no. 252, reproduced plate 173.