A copy with many originals

De Baecque, from France, sells on 28 Mai 2019 a "Flemish School, early 17th century" Jesus and Caiaphas, a large canvass (113 by 170 cm) estimated at 2,500 to 3,500 Euro.

It has an enigmatic monogram in the bottom right corner.

They indicate that it is a copy after an original in the Saint Omer Cathedral.

The original is a Frans Francken of 3 by 7 metres!

But the RKD gives us the probable origin of that painting, an even older engraving after Marten de Vos (this copy from the Grenoble Museum).

Is the Saint-Omer painting really by Francken? The British Museum has a large engraving showing a rather similar composition, but in this case it is given as "after Claude Deruet".

A reverse image of higher quality can be found at Gallica. This engraving is dated 1617. But though close, it is a different composition still.

The exact same composition though (excluding aspects of the background) can also be found on an engraving at the British Museum, and this time the original artist is given as Ambrosius Francken by the British Museum, although the engraving says it is after Frans Francken. This print is from.the 1760s.

All in all, it is hard to be certain what the actual original is for this work, and when to date it. The Saint Omer page indicates that other copies are known, e.g. in the magnificent Hôtel-Dieu in Beaune, but I haven't been able to find an image of that one. It is supposed to have the higher background we also find in the work for sale and in the bottom-most engraving I show.

UPDATE: not sold.

UPDATE 2: again for sale at De Baecque on 18 November 2019, now estimated 1,800 to 2,000 Euro.

UPDATE 3: sold for 1700 Euro, and apparently now for sale at John Nicholson, in the UK, with an estimate of £3,000 to £4,000 (and a poorer image).