A Pieter Bruegel tapestry?

Heritage auctions, from the US, sells on 18 December 2015 a "Flemish Baroque tapestry, after Pieter Bruegel, 17th Century" estimated at at least $5,000.

I am not aware of any old tapestry after or designed by Bruegel, nor of any Bruegel drawing or painting depicting this scene, so (assuming my search was somewhat comprehensive) this would be a major find, and the estimate an absolute bargain.

However, nothing in the style of the tapestry remind sme of Bruegel. The design looks to be the right period, with some details which can be found somewhat similar in works by one of the Bruegels (like the pan holding the blood of the boar), but e.g. this detail can also be found in a miniature by Simon Bening.

The design is awkward in details, it looks somehow "off", not consistent enough for what should have been a major work. Is it a later pastiche? My gut feeling says "yes", but I'm no tapestry expert. Calling this "after Pieter Bruegel" seems to be completely wrong though, and I would need strong evidence to change my mind.

Value of it: if it is 17th century, it should be worth more than the estimate, as tapestries of this size aren't an everyday occurrence. If it is 19th century or so, then the work put into it should be worth something, but no artistic value should be given to it. And if it is indeed somehow after Bruegel, there is no way you can have this for less than $100,000.

Vive la liberté!

Due to the events in Paris, I'm not really in the mood to spend a lot of time on this blog this week.

No matter how hard they test us, we should never cease having fun and enjoying ourselves. Liberté, egalité, fraternité, and the pursuit of happiness. Enjoy art, enjoy music, enjoy company, enjoy humour, embrace diversity. Help each other, love each other, love yourself. Stop the hate.

Fake Cranach again for sale at Jackson's

Beware: a "Follower of Cranach" which is actually a German fake is again for sale at Jackson's auctioneers tomorrow 17 November 2015. It was sold in June at the same auction house for $3,500 (and sold in November 2014 as well, quite a hot potato work)

I discussed this picture, with evidence of why I call it a fake, in an earlier blog post. I also alerted the auction house through Twitter at the time (and again now), so they should know by now...

UPDATE: sold for $5,500 this time, probably by someone not reading this blog...

Flemish School "Adoration of the Magi"

Auctionata, from Germany, sells on 28 November a "Flemish School, 17th century" Adoration of the Magi, estimated at 3,600 Euro.

A very similar composition, but in a more "primitive" version, was sold at Lempertz (also from Germany) in 2009 for 7,200 Euro. It is a bit strange to see the better version at a much lower estimate, but the art world is often hard to follow in this regard.

The work seems to be inspired by the likes of Denys Calvaert and David Teniers I, but I haven't found any direct match so far. Still, the estimate seems low for a well-painted early Flemish Baroque work of this quality.

Flemish School "Rest on the Flight"

Loeckx, Belgian auction house, sells on 24 November 2015 as lot 337 a "Flemish School, 16th century" Rest on the Flight to Egypt, estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 Euro.

The same composition, but in a horizontal version, is listed at RKD as "Anonymous Antwerp Manierist or manner of the Master of the Antwerp Adoration". I actually prefer the one for sale, but that may be due to condition issues.

The composition and style go back to older Flemish models, more specifically by Gerard David and Joachim Patinier (apart from the central figures, one can compare e.g. the basket in the RKD version and in the pictured Patinier version (bottom)).

I haven't found a closer example and can't pinpoint a possible painter for the version for sale, but it is a very nice 16th century Flemish (Bruges?) painting, and should be worth its estimate.

"Continental School" may be work by Hippolyte Pierre Delanoy

Jackson's, from Iowa, sells on 17 November 2015 a "Continental School, 19th cenury" still life, estimated at $400 to $600 (lot 367).

The topic and style remind me strongly of the work of Hippolyte Pierre Delanoy (1849-1899), a lesser known French painter whose still lifes used some of the same elements as in this work, e.g. the peacock feathers, the book, religious imagery, and the attention to detail and depiction of metal objects. If it is by Delanoy, it should fetch about ten times the estimate. Even as an anonymous work, the estimation is fairly conservative for what is an attractive academical work.

UPDATE: sold for $425, someone may have gotten a bargain (or I was again way too optimistic).

"School of Nicolaes Eliasz Pickenoy" is probably by Anthonie Palamedesz

Deutsch, from Austria, sell on 24 November (in an auction I have already posted on a few times) a "School of Nicolaes Eliasz Pickenoy (1588-1655)" Portrait of a gentleman, estimated at  400 to 800 Euro.

It is almost certainly the same painting that was sold at Pierre Bergé in 2009 as "Anthonie Palamedesz", Portrait of Anthonij Pietersz van Bronckhorst, with a long provenance. It fetched 2,500 Euro at the time. Sadly, since then it has suffered very serious damage, which explains the low estimate but not the lack of provenance or correct attribution.

The RKD also shows the pendant of the painting, which were kept together across many auctions before finally being separated after more than 300 years (rather sad, that).

While there are copies known of both paintings, none have the same quality (and dimensions) as in this case. How the attribution, subject, and provenance were lost (or why the auction house or owner decided not to note these) is not clear. What the actual value is of a painting which fetched 2,500 Euro before but is now heavily damaged (though luckily mainly in the background parts) is hard to tell. It should be worth between 500 and 1,000 Euro probably, if one goes with the (very low) price achieved in 2009. UPDATE: sold for 2,000 Euro.

New attributions are always possible of course, but it is nearly certain not to be by Pickenoy, as the painting was dated 1660 and Pickenoy died in 1655.