Abraham Storck

Captain F.J.C. Holdsworth, Widdicombe House, South Devon;
His sale et al., London, Christie's, 9 November 1951, lot 11, £241.10s to Speelman;
With Edward Speelman, London;
Acquired from the above by the parents of the present owner.

The canvas has a recent, rather firm, relining. The paint surface is stable but dirty and the varnish is even and only slightly discoloured. In overall reasonable condition. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals a campaign of slightly discoloured spot retouchings throughout the sky and some very minor strengthening to the dark tones of some of the figures in boats.
"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."

Nafplion or Nafplio is an important seaport situated on the southern Peloponnese in Greece. It was captured by the Ottomans in 1540, and in Storck's lifetime it was retaken by the Venetians in 1685, when the prominent castle of Palamidi was built. It is possible that the present painting may have been commissioned or intended to mark this event. Not much later, however, in 1715, the port was recaptured by the Ottomans and would remain under their rule until 1822 when it was seized by the Greeks in the Greek War of Independence. 

This painting belongs to a series of exotic harbour scenes painted by Storck early in his career. Storck never visited the Mediterranean himself, but probably based his paintings upon prints or drawings made by other artists. A very similar view of Nafplion, but with a different disposition of the shipping in the bay, was recorded in the collection of C. Beckett and exhibited at the Burlington Fine Art Club in London in 1932, no. 60. A comparable view of Smyrna, of similar dimensions to the present work, was sold London, Christie's, 8 July 2005, lot 37 (£108,000).

We are grateful to Dr. Pieter Roelofs for confirming the attribution on the basis of photographs.