Gillis Coignet the Elder

Private collection, France

Leuven, Musée Leuven, Michiel Coxcie, The Flemish Raphael, 31 October 2013 – 23 February 2014, no. 13.

K. de Jonckheere, ed., Michel Coxcie and the Giants of his Age, London 2013, cat. no. 19, reproduced p. 188.

The panel has been cradled and is flat and stable. The paint surface has been very well retained and there is good preservation of the impasto. The painting is presentable and can be hung as is. There are four horizontal joins that are slightly visible to the naked eye when examined closely but are not overly distracting: one runs through the sky, red drapery and top of Europa's head; another runs through the upper part of the bull's head, her chest and upper arm, sky and landscape at right; the third runs through the lower portion of the bull, her foot and water at right; the fourth runs through water at lower portion of composition. There are some other small cracks and splits in the panel, mostly in the vicinity of these aforementioned joins. Some scuffing along left edge. Examination under UV light reveals retouching along these joins and cracks. Some scattered retouches can also be seen on Europa's face, torso and legs, with a larger area on right thigh. There are only a very few small retouches on bull. Others are scattered in the sky, but mostly concentrated at left side, and only a few tiny ones in landscape and water. Some retouching along extreme left side. All of these restorations have been very well applied and there is no need for further work. Offered in an elaborately carved and gilt wood 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.
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.

Born in Antwerp in 1542, Gillis Coignet became a member of the Guild of St Luke there in 1561 but left for Italy shortly thereafter.  He is recorded working in Sicily, Umbria, and Florence before returning to Antwerp in 1570, where he became the Dean of the Guild of Saint Luke in 1585.  A year later, with the arrival of Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma, he moved to Amsterdam, and finally in the early 1590's to Hamburg , where he died on 27 October 1599.  The Abduction of Europa, depicting Jupiter disguised as a white bull and bringing the daughter of Agenor out to sea, is a late work by the artist, likely completed while he was in Hamburg.