FOLLOWER OF FRANS FRANCKEN THE YOUNGER | The interior of a picture gallery, with figures at a table watching a man dressed as a donkey demolishing statues

Anonymous sale, Vienna, Dorotheum, 30 November 1971, lot 43 (as Frans Francken the Elder);
Where acquired by the present owner.

The copper plate is flat and stable. The paint surface is clean and the varnish slightly discoloured. There are no major damages visible to the naked eye. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals a few spots of retouching: below the sitter’s foot lower left, in the frame and woman’s sleeve centre right, just above this frame, a handful of pin prick spots scattered in the upper right quadrant, and 3 further small spots in the wall to the right of the figure wearing a black cap. There also appears to be old retouching along a repaired zig-zag shaped damage, which starts in the picture depicting a volcano upper left, and ends in the donkey-headed figure’s knee, visible under raking light. In overall good 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."

The present composition is based on a painting by Frans Francken the Younger, whose original function was most likely to have been as furniture decoration.¹ The same group of figures on the left, with slightly altered gesticulations, can also be seen in a painting by the artist in the Galleria Borghese, Rome.² 1 U. Härting, Frans Francken der Jüngere, Freren 1989, vol. II, p. 372, cat. no. 452, reproduced p. 17, fig 11.
2 Inv. no. 253; see Härting 1989, p. 372, cat. no. 454, reproduced p. 17, fig. 12.