Petrus van Schendel

Sale: Christie's, London, 25 July 1938, lot 109
Franciscus Hubertus Quix, Utrecht (acquired circa 1938); thence by descent

Antwerp, Exhibition of Living Masters, 1855, no. 746 (as Une dame faisant l’aumône à un vieillard, au sortir de l’église. Effet de lumière)

The following condition report has been prepared by Hamish Dewar Ltd., 13 and 14 Mason's Yard, St James', London, SW1Y 6BU: UNCONDITIONAL AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE Structural Condition The artist's panel is providing an even and stable structural support. There is a small wax seal on the lower left corner of the reverse of the panel. Paint Surface The paint surface has a relatively even but heavily discoloured varnish layer. There are small scattered splash marks throughout the composition and a smear mark above the figures in the centre right. There are two abrasions on the left and right parts of the lower edge and a further abrasion on the centre of the right edge. The paint surface has an overall pattern of drying craquelure. This appears stable. Inspection under ultra-violet light confirms the heavily discoloured and opaque varnish layer which prevents the ultra-violet light from fully penetrating. Inspection under ultra-violet light also shows a few small spots of retouching on the man's face in the centre left of the composition, a few small retouchings covering craquelure above the head of the woman in the left of the composition and within her clothing, and a few further lines of retouching within the steps in the lower right of the composition. It is possible that there are further retouchings beneath the heavily discoloured varnish layers. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in relatively good and stable condition but due to the opaque varnish layers it is difficult to ascertain the extent of any previous restoration work.
"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."

Painted circa 1851-54.

Unseen by the public for over a century, the present work depicts the charitable gift of an elegantly-posed woman and her child, alongside the sort of busy night market scene at which Schendel excelled. The architecture in the present work is essentially based on landmarks in The Hague, where Schendel lived from 1838 until he relocated to Brussels in 1845. Backlit by moonlight, the steep gable of the city's Ridderzaal, the main building of the Binnenhof complex which hosts the Dutch Parliament, is visible above the market. While the foreground suggests the porch of a church, the architecture - masterfully illuminated by both moon and candelight - recalls the former stadthuis of Rotterdam. This classical building features in a number of other compositions by Van Schendel, including prominently in The Market Place, Rotterdam which established a new artist record in these rooms in May 2015.

A similar composition, smaller and on canvas, was sold at Christie's New York on 21 May 1986, with the scene erroneously identified as Antwerp Cathedral.