Maerten Ryckaert

Anonymous sale ('The Property of a Gentleman'), London, Christie's, 7 April 1995, lot 6, £78,500.

The support consists of a single copper plate which is completely flat apart from a small kink in the central part of the sky. The paint surface is exceptionally well preserved, with all the original impasto still intact and every fine detail apparently as it was when painted. There is hardly a restoration in sight, the only one of note being on and around the small kink in the copper in the sky. In the landscape there is barely any sign of interference.
"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."

This is the most elaborate version of a composition that must count as one Ryckaert's favourites for he painted it on at least five further occasions. Prime amongst these other versions is the large panel in the Niedsächsische Landesgalerie, Hanover, which is dated 1624 (48 x 84 cm.). The Hanover painting corresponds to the present example but omits the castle on the clifftop and is missing a portion of the sky at the top, making it more panoramic in shape. Other versions were sold London, Christie's, 23 May 1986, lot 99 (without castle and with only one figure lower left: 19.7 x 28 cm.); London, Philips, 5 July 1994, lot 25 (without castle but same staffage: 25.5 x 36.5 cm.); London, Christie's, 26 October 1990, lot 150 (signed and dated 1626, without castle, similar staffage, portion of sky missing: 9.8 x 24.2 cm.) and London, Christie's, 10 December 1993, lot 205 (signed and dated 1628, without castle, similar staffage but with a much lower rocky outcrop at the left: 48 x 71.4 cm).¹

As with all of Ryckaert's landscapes the influence of Paul Bril is unmistakeable. Ryckaert is thought to have studied under Bril in Rome circa 1605–10.² The compositional device, with a near-to rocky outcrop in shade in the left foreground and sweeping panorama beyond, is quintessentially 'Bril-ian' while the handling however betrays Ryckaert's own highly distinctive brush. Ryckaert, from a family of painters, was famously one-armed (as we see in Van Dyck's famous portrait of him, fig. 1), which makes his finely detailed landscapes all the more remarkable.

1. Two further versions of the composition were sold London, Sotheby's, 11 March 1964, lot 33, and 12 December 1984, lot 50 but both seem to be of lesser quality than the others.

2. There is some debate as to whether Ryackert actually went to Italy at all. If not Bril's influence muct have reached him in Antwerp through the plethora of prints that made their way back to Flanders from Rome.