Friday 8 December 2017

"Flemish, 18th century" is probably Dutch, 17th century

Gallerias Arno, from Italy, sells on 13 December 2017 an " 18th century Flemish Master" nocturnal village kermesse, estimated at 1,200 Euro.

It isn't really a kermesse (a village feast) but a typical "help, my village is burning" painting. It is also not Flemish, but Dutch, and not 18th century, but first half of the 17th century.

It is the work of or after Pieter de Bloot (1601-1658), and the RKD has a very similar work (but in much better condition) which was sold at Sotheby's in 1958 and 1994, with nearly the same dimensions.

At best, the work for sale needs cleaning to reveal actual de Bloot quality, and the estimate is a relative bargain; at worst, it is a poorer copy where the estimate is the most it will fetch.


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