Friday 8 April 2016

Probably Flemish, ca. 1700 Christ and the Adulterous Woman: circle of Hans Jordaens?

Bolland & Marotz, Germany, sells on 30 April 2016 a "Probably Flemish Master, ca. 1700" Christ and the Adulterous Woman,  estimated at 800 Euro.

The composition can also be seen in a work attributed to Adriaen van Nieulandt, ca. 1640 (Christie's, 2002, via RKD), but the works clearly aren't from the same hand.

The pose of Christ, with the finger pointing down, seems to be a misunderstood remnant of other depictions of the story (e.g. by Pieter Aertsen and Pieter Bruegel, engraving after Bruegel shown) where he is writing down "Die sonder sonde is, werpe de eerste steen" ("He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone")

Some elements of the work for sale remind me strongly of the work of Hans Jordaens, e.g. this "Noah's Arc" and some other similar works. At other times, it reminds me of Adriaen van Stalbemt. In any case, It looks more likely to be 1640 than 1700, and is an interesting work with some very good elements, but likely after some unknown older work from around 1600. Should be worth 800 Euro any day, and may well fetch 2,000 Euro.

UPDATE: sold for only 720 Euro. 


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