"Attr. Willem van Nieulandt" is a copy after a Lucas Van Leyden engraving

Baratoux-Dubourg, from Bordeaux, sells on 21 October 2015 an "Attributed to Willem van Nieulandt (1584 -1635)" Ecce Homo, an oil on panel of 50 by 65 cm, estimated at 3,000 to 5,000 Euro.

It is a faithful copy after a famous engraving by Lucas Van Leyden, the so-called "Large Ecce Homo" from 1510 (example from the Rijksmuseum pictured).

The RKD lists one other copy after this work, from the first half of the 16th century, without any guess at who might have painted it.

Whether the work for sale has anything to do with Nieulandt II seems hard to discern. As an anonymous work, it should have trouble fetching the lower estimate.

Popular Flowers from Brussels

At Baratoux, on 11 February 2015, they are selling a Dutch still life of flowers, ca. 1820, signed FUB (more likely FVB). Estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 Euro, I considered it a rather striking composition, with the blue flowers and the birds' nest. Turns out it is a copy (one of many) of a composition by Paul Theodor van Brussel, from the late 18th century.

The above better copy was sold at Bukowski's for some 4,100 Euro. A similar one below at Sotheby's failed to sell for $60,000 to $80,000 though. A huge price difference, but this version was significantly superior once one starts to look at the detailing. The one for sale now is rather mediocre, with an estimate that reflects this. But at least now I know who made the very good composition.