- 140
ADRIAEN JANSZ. VAN OSTADE | A Hurdy-Gurdy Player at the Door of House
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 GBP
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Description
- Adriaen jansz. van Ostade
- A Hurdy-Gurdy Player at the Door of House
- Pen and brown ink and brown and grey wash over black chalk, within brown ink framing lines; partially indented for transfer;signed with initials, lower right: Av.o;bears numbering in red chalk, verso: No. 1-7 m
- 102 by 91 mm
Provenance
Sale, Amsterdam, Christie's, 9 November 1998, lot 134,
where purchased by the late owner
where purchased by the late owner
Condition
Hinged to mount, top edge. Remains of further old mounting strips and glue areound the edges, verso. Small tears, centre left edge. Foxed throughout. Ink and wash good and strong. [FRAMED - check]
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
At the time of the 1998 sale, Dr. Bernhard Schnackenburg confirmed the attribution of this delightful and very characteristic drawing by Adriaen van Ostade, observing that it seems to be a late work, dating from after 1670. Although the composition is very close to that of a painting once in the collection of Lord Northbrook (fig. 1)1, the drawing must have been made as the design for an unexecuted etching. The outlines of the doorway, the figures within it, and the children in the foreground are all indented for transfer, but not those of the hurdy-gurdy player himself, suggesting that the artist was still working out his composition. In the end, no related print seems to have been completed, although there are close similarities of format and mood with etchings such as the Peasant leaning on his Doorway (B.9), the Mother with two Children (B.14) and The Doll (B.16), the last of which is dated 1679.
Whether this drawing or the Northbrook painting came first remains a matter of speculation. Ostade could have made the drawing first as a design for a print, and then, having decided against going ahead with the print, have recycled it as the basis for a painting. Or he could have made the painting first, and then considered making a related print. Either way, though, this very appealing drawing captures the essence of Ostade's engaging style and accomplished draughtsmanship.
1. W. Bernt, The Netherlandish Painters of the Seventeenth Century, London/New York 1970, vol. II, no. 887
Whether this drawing or the Northbrook painting came first remains a matter of speculation. Ostade could have made the drawing first as a design for a print, and then, having decided against going ahead with the print, have recycled it as the basis for a painting. Or he could have made the painting first, and then considered making a related print. Either way, though, this very appealing drawing captures the essence of Ostade's engaging style and accomplished draughtsmanship.
1. W. Bernt, The Netherlandish Painters of the Seventeenth Century, London/New York 1970, vol. II, no. 887