Wednesday 24 May 2017

Flemish School Eliezer: many variations with many different attributions

Rouillac, from France, sells on 11 June 2017 a "Flemish school, ca. 1560, circle of the Master of the Prodigal Son" Eliezer and Rebecca at the well, estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 Euro.

The composition is known from a fairly large number of copies, some anonymous, some tentatively attributed to a named master, but all of them apparently to a different master.

The RKD lists one from the circle of Maerten de Vos (sold at Dorotheum in 2007), an anonymous 1st half 16th century (sold at Sotheby's in 2004), a slightly later anonymous (ca. 1565) also from Sotheby's 2004 (which is very close to the one for sale), a third anonymous 2nd half 16th, sold at Sotheby's in 2006 (close to the 1565 version), an anonymous ca. 1560 version from the National Gallery of Ireland (also close to the 1565 version), and a Follower of Frans Floris from the Museum of Troyes (again close to the work for sale).

Older, rejected attributions relating it to Lambert Lombard, or the Master of the Prodigal Son abound as well.

A drawing by Hans Bol also seems to be related, but is less closely related than the two groups we can identify in the above list of illustrations.

Outside of the RKD, I can find some other versions also attributed to Marten de Vos or his circle.

The work for sale is not good enough to be attributed to any known painter, and I don't see more affinity with the Master of the Prodigal Son than with Frans Floris or with Marten de Vos. It would be interesting to found the originals behind these compositions though. The estimate seems about right, I certainly can't see it going for more.

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