Rich in Highlights

One star piece to be auctioned is a small format painting on copper by Jan Brueghel the Elder, probably from around 1611. Although small, the work nevertheless suggests great expanse and depth. Landscapes of this format constituted sought-after valuables for art collectors, which often also served as lavish gifts (lot 1022, 260/300,000).

The top lots also include a view of a small town on a canal painted by Jan van der Heyden, who was already considered an important painter of Dutch cityscapes in his lifetime, and furthermore would be seen as the founder of this subject. Heyden's ability to create ambiance with his particular precise and meticulous painting style can already be seen in this probably early picture. His works, as with the present lot, are not so much topographically correct recordings, but rather atmospheric pictures of a city (Lot 1079, 180/200,000).

Shining out amongst the numerous still lifes on offer is one by Floris van Schooten featuring sweetmeat, bread, nuts and vessels. Such still lifes of laden tables are known as 'Banketje' in the Netherlands. This picture type originated in Antwerp, and artists in Haarlem such as Floris van Dijck, Pieter Claesz, Nikolaes Gillis and Floris van Schooten made them popular (Lot 1045, 100/120,000). Paintings by the Dutch still life painter Nicolaes Lachtropius do not often appear on the art market. Most of these are so-called forest floor depictions in the manner of Marseus van Schriek. The luxurious flower piece to be offered, featuring life-like flowers and strongly contrasting colours belongs, conversely, to his rather rare classic flower pieces in the manner of Willen van Aelst. A very similar painting by Lachtropius can be found in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (lot 1078, 90/110,000). A pair of still lifes by Jan van Kessel the Younger offer on the one hand vegetables and rabbits, and on the other fish and cats, representing the gifts of the sea and the earth (lot 1081, 95/100,000).

The present Madonna and Child is attributed to the painter Juan de Flandes, born in Flanders and probably trained in Bruges. He was court painter to Queen Isabella of Castile from 1496 until his death in Spain and with only a few exceptions is represented in all museums. An individual stylistic mix can be seen in the works of this great master, in which the Flemish roots catch the eye just as much as the Southern character. Both also apply to this panel and explain the attribution (lot 1005, 120/140,000). Aelbert Cuyp was a masterly painter of horses. His equestrian portraits and hunting pictures show that the artist was very particular in giving the horses their own characteristics (lot 1065, 80/120,000). Jan van Goyen, one of the most important Dutch landscape painters often painted smaller, round pieces, the first in 1621, and the last in 1641. Our work, dated 1633 is therefore from his middle, mature period (lot 1036, 80/100,000). Jean Baptiste Oudry's depiction of a fight between a hunting dog and a bird is estimated at 80/100,000 (lot 1116).

Many of the consigned works are estimated between 50,000 and 90,000. A painting of the Passion of Christ is from a Lower Rhine master around 1490/1500 (lot 1004, 70/80,000), a Venus and Cupid is from Michele Tosini, called Michele di Ridolfo del Ghirlandaio (lot 1011, 50/60,000) and from Leonardo dal Ponte, called Leandro Bassano we find a scene from the Orpheus fables (Lot 1015, 40/60,000), whilst a St. Augustin is painted by Marcantonio Bassetti (Lot 1019, 80/90,000). Josse de Momper is present with a mountainous landscape (Lot 1023, 40/60,000) and from Aert van der Neer we find a river landscape (Lot 1017, 45/60,000). Daniel Seghers and Simon de Vos are represented with a flower garland and a medallion (lot 1053, 70/90,000), and David Teniers the Younger with a cheerful drinker (lot 1061, 60/70,000) and an allegory of autumn (lot 1060, 45/50,000). A scene of farmers resting in front of an inn is from Philips Wouwerman (lot 1080, 50/60,000), Cornelis de Heem gives us a fruit still life (lot 1092 50/60,000), Jacobus Balthasar Peeters two views of church interiors (lot 1113, 70/90,000), and from Matthijs Naiveu an elegant group in an interior (lot 1115, 60/80,000).

SCULPTURE

The traditional focus of the sculpture is the Gothic work from the German-speaking regions and Flanders. Worth noting is a wood enthroned Madonna from Bruges, early 16th century (lot 1215, 30/40,000), a further carved wood piece depicting St. Laurentius by Henrick van Holt from the first half of the 16th century (lot 1225, 30/40,000), and a Madonna and Child as a chandelier (Lüsterweibchen), probably Northern Germany from the first half of the 15th century (lot 1186, 25/30,000). Further small sculptures mostly in ivory or bronze are also offered for auction.

19th CENTURY

The offering in this section is dominated by three paintings by Ludwig Richter, Friedrich Nerly and Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. The rediscovered painting by Ludwig Richter is a small version of a painting by Richter in the State Art Collection in Dresden (lot 1514, 240/260,000). A magnificent view of the Canale Grande in winter from Friedrich Nerly is from an Italian collection. With this comparatively late painting, Nerly once again shows his great talents with which he was able to capture the magical image of Venice on canvas, even after the fall of the once powerful Serenissima, and on the eve of the founding of Italy (lot 1536, 180/220,000). A further highlight is a landscape painting by Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. The painting belongs to Corot's late landscapes in which the reality of the actual landscape appears to be transformed into a landscape vision. The painting is stylistically linked to the works made in Mortefontaine near Senlis, which is where it may have been painted. The canvas will be included in the supplementary volume to the inventory of Corot's works (lot 1539, 150/180,000).

Carl Spitzweg is present with a romantic landscape for 80/100.000. This almost square, perfectly balanced composition, characterised by its distant view at the centre, undoubtedly holds an outstanding position among the artist's early works (lot 1534, 80/100,000). An oil-over-pencil sketch of a young Italian woman with large dark eyes by Queen Victoria's favourite painter has been consigned by Franz Xaver Winterhalter's descendants (lot 1515, 60/70,000). Johan Christian Clausen Dahl is present with an image of the deer park 'Dyrehaven' near Copenhagen (lot 1535, 50/60,000).

The offering is rounded off with paintings from Andreas Achenbach (lot 1537, 40/45,000), two Orient scenes by Adolf Schreyer (lots 1543/1544, 30/50,000), and a major work by Carl Jutz the Elder which has featured in many exhibitions. A painting of a chicken, peacock and a greyhound with the Shakespeare title 'Much Ado About Nothing' measuring 147 x 189 cm is one of the artist's largest works (lot 1551, 50/60,000). Alexander Koester is present with one of his characteristic depictions of ducks in a pond (lot 1570, 35/40,000).