JAN JOSEFSZ. VAN GOYEN | A group of houses among bare trees

General George Catchmade Morgan,
thence by descent to his daughter, Sophia Pollard;
with P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., London, in 1976;
with C.G. Boerner, Dusseldorf, by 1981;
sale, Amsterdam, Christie's, 22 November 1982, lot 40

H.-U. Beck, Jan van Goyen, vol. III, supplement, Doornspijk 1987, p. 118, no. 844A/2, p. 120, reproduced
C.P. van Eeghen, 'Jan van Goyen's Early Chalk Landscapes from Two Albums,' in Master Drawings, XXXV, no. 2 (Summer 1997), pp. 159 and 179, fig. 12, p. 162, reproduced

Window mounted and subsequently hinge mounted to a modern decorative mount. There is some discoloration to the sheet, though the borders remain in better condition, probably due in part to the positioning of an old mount. The drawing remains in otherwise good condition with the black chalk fresh and vibrant throughout. Sold in a modern dark 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. 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 sketch originates from an album known as the Catchmade Morgan Album which, when Dr. Beck studied it in 1977, contained some 67 chalk drawings, mounted and bound together, prior to the album being broken up around 1978.  Dr. Beck accepted the drawings that he saw in the Catchmade Morgan Album as original works by Van Goyen, dating them to around 1627-29, but rejected a further 9 sheets which had already been removed from the album by that time.  More recently, though, C.P. van Eeghen has proposed that all the drawings originally contained in the album were in fact by Van Goyen, those rejected by Beck being the earliest known chalk studies by the artist, dating from around 1623-4, and the others being slightly later in date, but in any case executed no later than 1626-7.   The present study is of particular interest, having been identified by van Eeghen as one of the few drawings from the Catchmade Morgan Album that can be securely connected, though in reverse and with some minor differences, to a signed and dated painting by Van Goyen. In this instance the painting, which was previously on the London art market,¹ is signed and dated 1626, providing us with a terminus ante quem for our drawing, whilst substantiating van Eeghen's dating of the album.

Beck and van Eeghen do, however, agree that the drawings in this group represent views near Leiden, where Van Goyen was living at the time.

^1. see H.-U. Beck, Jan Van Goyen (1596–1656), vol. II, Amsterdam 1973, p. 116, cat. no. 240, reproduced