NICOLAES MAES | Children playing with a swing and two dogs before a ruined arch

Mauerbach Depository, Austria, from where transferred to the Federation of Austrian Jewish Communities;
By whom sold, Vienna, MAK-Österrisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Christie’s, 29 October 1996, lot 66, for ATS380,000¹;
Private collection.

The canvas has been relined. The paint surface is in good condition, with a fine web of craquelure throughout that is stable. A thin line of loss down the right edge of the painting, almost certainly due to frame abrasion, is visible to the naked eye. Under UV inspection, the varnish fluoresces unevenly, and two campaigns of restoration are visible. Both campaigns involve small retouches to the foliage at the top and center, and the later campaign also includes finely applied retouches to the chests of the two central figures, along craquelure lines. None of the retouching is visible to the naked eye. The painting can hang as is but would possibly benefit from a light cleaning or varnish. Offered in a decoratively carved gilt 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.
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.

Maes’s portraits of children are among his most engaging works, and the classical setting and imaginative poses of the children indicate that this painting dates from his maturity, in the late 1670s. The children are very similar to the putti in Sleeping Venus and dancing putti in the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Nîmes, dated 1679-86.² Dr. León Krempel, to whom we are grateful, has confirmed the attribution to Maes based on photographs. 1. For more on this sale and provenance, see K. Haslinger, “Mauerbach und der lange Weg bis zur Auktion: 1969–1996”, in T. Brückler (ed.), Kunstraub, Kunstbergung und Restitution in Österreich, 1938 bis heute, Vienna/Cologne/Weimar 1999.

2. Inv. no. IP-284, see L. Krempel, Nicolaes Maes, Petersberg 2000, p. 360, no. D30, reproduced fig. 298.