CASPAR NETSCHER | The fortune teller

Philippe, Duc d'Orleans (d. 1723), Palais-Royal, Paris, until 1791/2 when brought to England and offered for sale by private treaty;
Joseph Wilkinson, London;
By whom anonymously sold ('A Gentleman of Refined Taste, now about to retire into the country'), London, Christie's, 21 May 1816, lot 67, for £48, to Hildebrandt;
Colonel Le Blanc;
By whom anonymously sold, London, Christie's, 27 May 1820, lot 98, where unsold;
By whom re-offered, London, Christie's, 16–17 June 1820, lot 123, for £57–15s. to Wilkins;
William Wilkins, 1829, given in exchange to;
E. Grey, by 1834;
Possibly anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 15 April 1901, lot 81 for £19–19s. to Miller;
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 2 July 1920, lot 62, for 63 Guineas to Lacey;
With Duits, London;
Private Collection;
Thence by descent to the present owner.

L.F. DuBois de Saint Gelais, Description des Tableaux du Palais Royal, Paris 1727, p. 164;
A.J. Dezalliers D’Argenville, Abrégé de la vie des plus fameux peintres, vol. III, Paris 1745–52, p. 57;
J.B. Descamps, La vie des Peintres Flamands, Allemands, et Hollandais, vol. III, Paris 1753–64, pp. 82–83;
W. Buchanan, Memoirs of Painting, with a Chronological History of the Importation of Pictures by the Great Masters into England since the French Revolution, vol. I, London 1984, p. 207;
J.A. Smith, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters, 9 vols. & supplement, London 1829–42, p. 154, cat. no. 31;
C.J. Niewenhuys, A Review of the Lives and Works of some of the most Eminent Painters, London 1834, pp. 168–69 (as in Gray Collection, and as by Constantijn Netscher);
G.F. Waagen, Treasures of art in Great Britain, London 1854–57, vol. 2, p. 501;
C. Hofstede de Groot, A Catalogue Raisonné..., vol. V, London 1912, p. 175, cat. no. 78, p. 176, cat. no. 79a (sale 1901, as possibly identical HdG 78), and p. 197, cat. no. 143b;
A. Graves, Art Sales, from early in the Eighteenth Century to early in the Twentieth Century, vol. II, London 1981–21, p. 281;
M.E. Weiseman, Caspar Netscher and Late Seventeenth-century Dutch Painting, Doornspijk 2002, p. 213–4, cat. no. 63, reproduced in colour pl. 12. ENGRAVED

Louis-Michel Halbou, circa 1787–88, as Les Bohémiennes.

The canvas is lined, the paint surface is relatively clean, and the varnish is clear and even. The colours and details are very well-preserved. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals scattered, sensitively-executed spot retouchings through the figures; in the background, centre right; in the cave, upper left; and sky, upper right. In overall good condition. Offered in a carved and gilt wood frame with some losses.
"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."

Marjorie Weiseman dates this canvas to circa 1666–70 (see Literature), and compares the old woman, young woman, and boy to the closely related figures in Netscher's Bathsheba of 1667.¹ The figured silk worn by the young fortune teller, was possibly woven in the Netherlands in the Chinese (or 'Indienne' as it was often termed) style. In the two 1820 sales this painting was described as a pendant to its consecutive lot, Sarah introducing Hagar to Abraham, by Netscher.² The two pictures share the same early provenance; they were both in the collection of the Duc d'Orleans, but Sarah introducing Hagar to Abraham was not included in the 1816 sale (see Provenance). The pictures were separated as they were sold from the Wilkins collection, the present work was exchanged in 1829, its pendant sold in Wilkins' sale London, Christie's, 22 May 1830, lot 4.  

There are two known copies of The Fortune Teller: one on canvas (56 x 46 cm) was sold Berlin, 16 October 1934, lot 298; and one black chalk drawing (410 x 340 mm.) was with Chaucer and Van Dam Galleries, London, 1981, as attributed to Willem van Mieris.

1 Weiseman 2002, p. 212, cat. no. 61, reproduced fig. 61 
2 Weiseman 2002, p. 254, cat. no. 122, reproduced fig. 122.