Johann Wilhelm Baur

Princess d'Aremberg;
Her sale, Brussels, Galerie Georges Giroux, 15 November 1926, lot 7 (as Spanish School, 17th Century);
Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 29 January 2009, lot 216, where acquired by the present owner for $98,500.

Tivoli, Villa d'Este, Paesaggio laziale tra ideale e reale, dipinti del XVII e XVIII secolo, 21 June - 1 November 2009, cat. no. 22.

V. Schiafinni in F. Petrucci, ed., Paesaggio laziale tra ideale e reale, dipinti del XVII e XVIII secolo, exhibition catalogue, Tivoli 2009, cat. no. 22, pp. 68-69. 

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This work is restored and should be hung in its current condition, except for a recent dent in the trees in the upper right that needs to be addressed. The canvas has been lined. There are retouches around all of the edges. There is a join across the top of the sky, about 6 inches from the top edge. The paint layer above this join may not be period, or at the very least is extensively restored. The canvas also has a noticeably different texture here. Nonetheless, the restorations here and elsewhere are good. Retouches have been added here and there to address some weakness. The texture of the paint has perhaps been slightly diminished because of the lining. However, given the period, the work seems to be in good condition.
"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."

This painting is a rare work in oil by the German artist Johann Willem Baur, who is best known for his miniature watercolors and engravings depicting the villas and parks of Rome.  Baur is recorded in Rome in the 1630s where he found steady work with a number of aristocratic patrons including the Duke of Bracciano and Ferdinando Colonna, Prince of Paliano.  A small group of oil paintings have been assigned to Baur and the present painting can be compared to two other works ascribed to him: another View of the Gardens of the Villa d'Este, Tivoli (private collection, Rome) and a View of the Villa Borghese (private collection, Montreux).¹

The Villa d'Este and gardens were built by Ippolito II d'Este, Cardinal of Ferrara, who was appointed governor of Tivoli in 1550. The gardens were designed by the architect and archaeologist Pirro Ligorio (circa 1510-1583) and are still captivating tourists today. 

 

1.  See L. Salerno, Pittori di paesaggio del Seicento a Roma, Rome 1980, Vol. II, pp. 463 and 465, reproduced figs. 74.2 and 74.5.