Monday 14 March 2016

"Italian School" is the work of Hispano-Flemish Juan de la Corte

Vanderkindere sells on 22 March 2016 an "Italian School, late 16th - early 17th century" Abduction of Helen, a 89 by 101cm canvas estimated at 4,000 to 6,000 Euro.

It is probably the work of Juan de la Corte (1585-1662), a Flemish painter from Antwerp who worked all his life in Spain. The Prado has five of his works, including a 150 by 222 cm version of this same work. The Prado version is somewhat better, but has the same awkward figures and poses: to me it looks like the same painter, but taking a bit more time and effort in the Prado version.

The Prado  description says that multiple versions of this work by the same painter are known to exist. One of then can be found in the BBVA collection (BBVA is a Spanish bank with a good art collection). This version is 132 by 180cm and stays closer to the Prado version than the one for sale.

The work for sale now either has been sold or was for sale in 2014 at French gallery JMV Arts for 14,600 Euro, or three times the current estimate. There, it was described as Italian School 17th century (ca. 1640), follower of Antonio Tempesta.

Similarities with e.g. the above Hecuba by Tempesta are indeed noticeable, but the works of Tempesta were known and popular throughout Europe.

If it is accepted as a work by Juan de la Corte, it should be worth at least 10,000 Euro (some of his works fetch a lot more, but this isn't one of his masterpieces).

UPDATE: sold for 4,000 Euro only.


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