Rembrandt and Teniers

Aguttes Neuilly, from France, sells some nice works on 12 March 2019.

Lot 68 is a Jean-Jacques Pradier, estimated at 300 to 500 Euro.

It is signed, so it may well be painted by Pradier, but it is a straight copy of a typical small David Teniers, now in the Louvre.

More interesting is lot 55, a pair of "19th century Dutch school" drawings, estimated at 300 to 400 Euro. One is identified as a Rembrandt selfportrait, and the other one is a Rembrandt etching as well.

I don't know enough about Rembrandt and his drawings, but these two are very well done, and in reverse compared to the engravings. Could they be original designs or sketches for these two engravings? Highly, highly unlikely of course, but nice to ponder. They certainly were made by someone who knew how to draw, and how to turn a more static engraving in a fluid, spontaneous work.

If I were to spend 300 Euro, I would certainly prefer the two Rembrandt drawings over the Teniers painting!

A charming Jesus as a child

Aguttes Neuilly, from France, sells a nice collection of old paintings in their auction of 12 March 2019.

Lot 63 is a "Jesus in the workshop of Joseph", attributed to the workshop of Pieter Lisaert and estimated at 1,500 to 2,500 Euro. Pieter Lisaert is a follower of Francken, one of the few we know by name and who are not called Francken. A few other similar scenes are known by him, and this painting is clearly in the general style of the Franckens. It is very charming, even if it isn't the best painting.

One can compare this with two paintings found at RKD, one with a now rejected attribution to Lisaert (because they don't know which, if any, of the 4 Pieter Lisaerts may have painted it!), and one still attributed to him. All three have similar small dimensions (the one for sale is 37 by 29 cm).

The subject is unusual but not totally unheard of, as can be seen in this engraving by Theodoor Galle from the same period (found at the Rijksmuseum).

Another similar, perhaps slightly older work was sold at Bertolami for 3,600 Euro. That one was attributed to a Flemish painter active in Italy in the late 16th century.

But by far the most similar painting is this one from Wikigallery (which has a truckload of interesting images, but a regrettable lack of information on where they found them, and an ugly watermark). It is said to be "French School". The whole scene, and especially the rather close two Josephs, seem to point to some common origin, a painting or engraving I haven't found yet.

The Mary from that French School painting seems to be inspired by a Holy Family by Murillo. And the Jesus from that painting comes from an anonymous Italian 16th century engraving (found at the British Museum)! This starts to feel like following a trail of bread crumbs.

The estimated value for this one seems about right.

Tomorrow probably more from this auction!

"Flemish School, ca. 1550" is copy after Raphael (though with a Flemish connection)

Aguttes, from France, sells on 29 May 2018 a "Flemish School, c. 1550" drawing of the Adoration of the Magi, estimated at 2,500 to 4,000 Euro.

It is a good-sized (28 by 44 cm) but somewhat damaged drawing showing a quality composition which is well executed, but not brilliantly so.

The work is a design for a tapestry for Raphael, now in the Vatican Museums, and probably created at the Pieter Van Aelst workshop. The above drawing from the Morgan Library may be the original, and is certainly considered to be contemporary with the tapestry.

Comparison of a detail (upper left corner) will show the difference in quality, the condition issues with the work for sale, and the fact that the Morgan version is larger. But despite all this, it also shows the considerable quality and skill of the Aguttes version.

I have not been able to find food images of the finished tapestry, only partial images under an angle, which is rather disappointing. This one, from a tour operator in Rome, is the best I could find (and the accompanying text is surprisingly informative).

Unless some evidence could be found linking the drawing for sale directly to Pieter Aerts and his workshop, I think the estimate is about right, perhaps somewhat high for a copy.