ATTRIBUTED TO JACQUES DE CLAEUW | Vanitas still life with a broken glass roemer, recorder, skull, extinguished candle, documents and books

Delmaet, Wouwen, Dixmeude, after 1937;

Anonymous sale, Amsterdam, Christie's, 11 May 1994, lot 101 (as Circle of Jacques Grief de Claeuw), where acquired.

H.-J. Raupp (ed.), Niederländische Malerei des. 17. Jahrhunderts der SØR Rusche-Sammlung, vol. 5, Stilleben und Tierstücke, Münster/Hamburg/London 2004, pp. 86-89, cat. no. 13, reproduced in colour (as Circle of de Claeuw).

We are grateful to Dr. Fred G. Meijer for endorsing this attribution to Jacques de Claeuw and for noting that this painting is stylistically typical of the artist in 1664. It would appear that an original signature was included at the upper margin of the book cover and was later washed over before a new signature was added. Over time the wash has become more transparent revealing some small indications of the original signature, the flouish underneath, and the date, 1664.