Lot 8 Dα

Little is known with regard to Jacob van der Borcht's biography, not even the exact dates of his birth and death. He is known to have worked in Antwerp following an apprenticeship under Gaspar de Cle from 1685/86 and thought to have stayed for a time in Brussels in the early 18th century. Only very few works have been attributed to him thus far, including a painting in the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum in Innsbruck and several large-format works in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

The present work is thought to have been carried out as a pendant to a piece auctioned recently by Tajan in Paris (26.3.2003, lot 117). Both works depict classical busts hung with sumptuous floral garlands in landscapes scattered with tall ruins. In the Paris work it is a bust of a young woman, whilst the present work depicts the ancient god Pan with melons, plums, peaches, and other fruits scattered upon the ground before him.

We would like to thank Dr. Fred Meijer for attributing this work to Jacob van der Borcht based on photographs.