Wednesday 11 December 2019

Van den Hoecke, Jan Brueghel II, Frans Francken, Hendrick van Balen... all copies after Cavarozzi

Fourquet-Peeren, from Saint-Omer in France, sells on 14 December 2019 a "Flemish School (Antwerp), first half of the 17th century" Holy family, estimated at 4,000 to 6,000 Euro. It is attributed on the frame to Jan Van den Hoecke (1611-1651), assistant to Rubens.

Earlier this year, Rob Michiels sold another version of the same composition, this time attributed to a Follower of Hendrick van Balen (I couldn't find an actual overview photo of the painting, only this central part). They also have approximately the same dimensions (124 by 90 cm, versus 121 by 82 cm). It sold for 4,400 Euro (costs included).

Dorotheum sold in 2013 a flower garland with this composition inside for 61,000 Euro. According to the RKD, it should be attributed to the workshop of Frans Francken II; at the auction, it was attributed to Jan Brueghel II.


Despite all these big Flemish names, it looks as if the original or the direct inspiration for this work should be sought in Italy, with Bartolomeo Cavarozzi (1587-1625). He painted many similar works, with e.g. the first two above (said to be copies after Cavarozzi) showing the exact same position of the hands. The second of those is from Koller, 2010. The other two are authentic Cavarozzi.

I presume that some engraving made this work popular in Flanders, but I haven't found it.

1 comment:

  1. Hello. Very interesting. Here I leave one more similar painting recently on sale. https://templumauctions.com/auction/247-gran-subasta-de/lot-242-importante-oleo/

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