Lot 147
  • 147

ADRIAEN VAN DE VELDE | Figures watering their cattle with their flock, ruined buildings beyond

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Adriaen van de Velde
  • Figures watering their cattle with their flock, ruined buildings beyond
  • signed and dated on the tree trunk: A.V. Velde / 1667
  • oil on canvas
  • 31.8 x 21.7 cm.; 12 1/2  x 8 1/2  in.

Provenance

Possibly Lapeyrière collection, Paris (according to de Vries and Buvelot, see Literature);
Casimir Pierre Périer (1777–1832), Paris;
His posthumous sale, Paris, Laneuville, 18–23 April 1838, lot 51;
Johan Steengracht van Oostcapelle (1782–1846);
Thence by descent to Hendrik Steengracht van Oosterland (1808–1875);
Thence by descent to Hendrik Adolf Steengracht van Duivenvoorde (1836–1912);
His posthumous sale, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, 9 June 1913, lot 76 (as dated 1661), for 39,000 francs to Wildenstein;
With Wildenstein, Paris;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 9 July 1993, lot 161, where acquired by the present owner.

Literature

C. Hofstede de Groot, A catalogue raisonné..., vol. IV, London 1912, p. 494, cat. no. 126 (as dated 1671);
W. Stechow, 'A painting and a drawing by Adriaen van de Velde', The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 54, no. 2, February 1967, p. 35, n. 17 (as dated 1664);
W.W. Robinson, 'Preparatory drawings by Adriaen van de Velde', Master Drawings, vol. XVII, no. 1, 1979, pp. 10, 13–16, reproduced p. 11, fig. 6;
M. Frensemeier, Studien zu Adriaen van de Velde (1636–1672), doctoral diss., Bonn 2001, pp. 74 and 168, cat. no. 117, reproduced p. 264, fig. 95;
A. de Vries and Q. Buvelot, Passie voor schilderijen: De verzameling Steengracht van Duivenvoorde, Leiden 2012, p. 104, cat. no. 78, reproduced in colour p. 105;
B. Cornelis and M. Schapelhouman, Adriaen van de Velde. Dutch Master of Landscape, exh. cat., London 2016, p. 154, under cat. nos 35–38, reproduced in colour fig. 152.

Condition

The canvas is lined, the paint surface is relatively clean, and the varnish pretty clear and even. There is a slight degree of wear visible in the very lowest part of the canvas, and in the body of the brown cow, centre right, and the sheep beside it. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals retouching to these areas, particularly around the sheep on the right, as well as to the tree trunk, scattered in its branches, in the sky, and along all four margins. There are also small retouchings in the woman's face and in the group of sheep to the left. The painting is in overall fair condition.
"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

This painting would appear to be the only work by Adriaen van de Velde for which an almost complete set of preparatory drawings survives: a preliminary sketch, which differs in several elements to the painting, particularly in the position and inclusion of animals;1 a more carefully worked-up drawing, representing the final, less-crowded composition;2 and two red chalk studies of the figures.3 Robinson (see Literature) notes that the pose of the girl remains the same in both compositional drawings, suggesting that Van de Velde already had his red chalk drawing of the same among his stock of motifs. The change in the pose of the boy, however, implies that the artist most probably executed the study of this figure between working on the preliminary drawing and the more finished modello.

This lot is sold along with an engraving made after the modello, by Cornelis Ploos van Amstel.

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel
'Ectypa', after Adriaen van de Velde
Crayon-manner etching printed brown, 1763, a good impression, with the artist’s coat of arms inkstamp verso, on laid paper with a proprietary watermark
Sheet: 256 x 246 mm.;10 x 9 3/4  in.

Trimmed to the borderline, in good condition, a area of pale staining in the male figure at lower right, a small area of spotting above the horizon at right, a few pale fox marks.

1 British Museum, London, inv. no. Oo,11.258; see Cornelis and Schapelhouman 2016, pp. 149–54, cat. no. 35, reproduced p. 150.
2 Albertina, Vienna, inv. no. 17605; ibid., pp. 149–54, cat. no. 36, reproduced p. 151.
3 Fondation Custodia, Collection Frits Lugt, Paris, inv. no. 4784; and Amsterdam Museum, C.J. Fodor Bequest, inv. no. TA 10344; ibid., pp. 149–54, cat. nos 37–38, reproduced pp. 152–53.