Jacob Ferdinand Voet

Probably Pamphilj collection;
Probably Cybo collection;
Gonzalo Cordova Lara, Mexico City;
From whom acquired by R. E. Pruitt, Jr, 11 June 1969;
Anonymous Sale, Phoenix, The Arizona Auctioneers, 27 April 1995, lot 286;
Where acquired by present owner. 

This painting has been relined probably with wax sometime in the mid-20th century. The relining appears stable at present, although along the left edge the original canvas has slightly pulled away from relining canvas, leaving some minor losses to the original canvas. Overall, the painting is dirty but extremely impressive. The original support is a heavy Roman canvas, and during the relining the paint layer has been pressed slightly into the weave of the canvas, but this is not terribly disfiguring. Her left hand and forearm are slightly damaged and have some areas of overpaint, but the other hand is in good condition. The details of her dress and jewelry are also still very well preserved. There appears to be a cleaning test on the figure's right sleeve at center, which is visible in the photo. Under UV, there is an opaque varnish and some restorations are visible. There is a compound tear at center left to the left of her elbow, and there are a few associated restorations visible. There are a few small retouches on the sides of her nose, her chest, and her dress, particularly in the lower, shadowed portion. There is a horizontal tear in the column at the right. With some work this painting can be restored to a very attractive and impressive state.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This grand portrait has been recognized by Francesco Petrucci as an important rediscovery by Voet, and one of the rare full length portraits that the artist ever produced. The sitter has been likely identified as Teresa Pamphilj (Rome October 14, 1654 - Mass on Aug. 7, 1704), daughter of Prince Camillo Pamphilj and Princess Olimpia Aldobrandini. Along with Voet’s portraits of Anna Pamhilij-Doria (Palazzo Doria-Pamphilij, Rome) and Peter Bankers (Private Collection), this is one of the very few large scale, full length works by Voet, who specialized in half and bust-length portraits of the elite patrician class in Rome and Milan. The identity of the sitter is based on comparison with Voet’s portrait of Teresa Pamphilj Cybo in the Palazzo Chigi, Ariccia, which Petrucci believes predates the present work by a few years. This canvas may have been commissioned on the occasion of Pamphilij’s 1673 marriage to Prince Camillo.  

We are grateful to Francesco Petrucci for his assistance in the cataloguing of this lot. Petrucci’s original and expanded correspondence is available upon request.