Wednesday 11 December 2019

An unrecognised copy after Jacob de Backer (and one after Pieter Coecke)


Herbette, from Doullens, in France, sells on 15 December 2019 a "Dutch School, 17th century" Music for the Gods, estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 Euro.

It is a more colourful but slightly stilted version of an "Apollo and Pan" by Jacob de Backer, sold at Christie's last year for £22,500. That one was 107 by 149 cm, the one for sale is only 55 by 72 or about half size (well, quarter size by surface area, half size by any single dimension).

Even as a copy it seems underrated and should probably go for closer to 5,000 Euro.

The same auction also has as lot 290 a "Northern School, 17th century" Holy Family, estimated at 800 to 1200 Euro.

It is a copy after Pieter Coecke (workshop version shown, other variations are known as well), not the best but interesting at that price. Note how the hand of the virgin offering her breast to the child, has been changed in the more "modest" version for sale to a hand giving a benediction.

No comments:

Post a Comment