Wednesday 14 November 2018

Alexander Wiskemann or Dirck De Quade Van Ravesteyn

Bonham's, from England, sells on 5 December 2018 an "Attributed to Alexander Wiskemann" Venus and Amor, estimated at 21,000 to 29,000 Euro.

They give an extensive provenance, including a sale at Im Kinsky in 2010. It was offered there with an estimate of 20,000 to 30,000 Euro, and failed to sell in the regular auction (it may have sold during the aftersale).

It seems to have been offered at Teeuwisse in 2011 as well.

A different or uncleaned version of this painting was sold at Neumeister in 2008, with an estimate of 30,000 Euro. It was attributed to Dirck de Quade van Ravesteyn.

I
understand the attribution to Ravesteyn better than the one to Wiskemann, as the Venus here shares similarities with Venuses (Veni?) in other works by the artist. But these Ravesteyns show a more accomplished artist, so at best it would be a "circle of" or "follower of" him.

Alexander Wiskemann on the other hand is a nearly unknown painter, and I have not found any comparable paintings. So I have not the faintest idea why the attribution to Wiskemann is given, it doesn't seem to be based on a signature either. Strange!

UPDATE: the composition is close to a 1610 work by Mattäus Gundelach, sold at Dorotheum in 2011 with an estimate of 60,000 Euro. I don't think the artist of that work and the one for sale are the same though, but I wouldn't be surprised if one artist lies at the basis of both.

UPDATE 2: not sold

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