Hampel, from Germany, sells on 22 September 2016 an Attributed to Hendrick Aerts, ca. 1575" view of a Gothic Church with people, estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 Euro.
It is a depiction of the interion of the Saint John of Laterans, in Rome. For some reason this work has often been copied, but no oiriginal by Aerts seems to be known. So the question is whether this is the original, or another copy. While it at first glance is a very good version, it falls a bit flat when seen upclose. Further research shows that this is due to the fact that it is closest to the engraving of the original made by Jan van Londerseel around 1600, apart from the praying pope in the front which has simply disappeared in the painting.
Other copies of the painting are usually less close to the engraving, as the above examples show (top one from was for sale at Jean Moust, bottom one painted by Pieter Neeffs the elder).
Looking at details, the engraving is always more precise, a lot clearer about what is being shown, while the painting often only suggests what is there. So the sad conclusion is that this as well isn't the original by Aerts, and most likely not by him at all.
One original by Aerts was sold at Bonham's in 2000 for about the current estimate: but works like this, copies of this work by anonymous followers of Aerts, have sold for about 5,000 Euro the past few years, and I would estimate this one at the same.
