DIRCK HALS | Portrait of a lady, bust-length, in a gold-embroidered dress with a ruff and red ribbons

Count Gerard Joseph Emile D'Aquin (b. 1865), a buyer for William Randolph Hearst;
Thence by descent in his family;
By whom sold, New York, Christie’s, 26 January 2012, lot 285 (as School of Haarlem, circa 1620);
There acquired.

The copper support is flat and stable. The painting presents reads well beneath the varnish and much of the small, intricate detail is well preserved. Inspection under UV reveals a slightly milky varnish, beneath which appear some finely applied strokes of retouching in the sitter's, primarily her forehead, one small spot in her hair, as well as some scattered spots in her lace ruff. There are a few additional small and isolated spots in the background and in her lower costume, primarily concentrated near the edges. The painting can hang in its present condition and is offered in a decoratively carved giltwood frame with a dark velvet liner.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This charming miniature portrait is an early work by Dirck Hals, the younger brother of Frans Hals.  The swirling brushstrokes in the sitter's face and the delicate strokes that define her lace are consistent with the stylistic handling of his more youthful output, as also visible in his miniature Portrait of Arent Meyndertsz Fabricius of 1626 (Haarlem, Frans Hals Museum)¹ as well as his larger Merry Company of 1633 (The Hague, Mauritshuis).²  We are grateful to Dr. Pieter Biesboer for his assistance in cataloguing the present lot and for endorsing the attribution after firsthand inspection.  

1.  Inv. no. os I-106, oil on panel, 14 by 10.5 cm.
2.  Inv. no. 1060, oil on panel, 30 by 51.3 cm, signed and dated DHALS 1633.