Elegant Musical Gathering in an Aristocratic Interior

c. 1710 - 1715

Nicolas LOIR (Paris, 1624 – 1679) Penitent Saint Mary Magdalene Oil on canvas, 58 x 71 cm Circa 1665–1675 Trained under Simon Vouet and later Sébastien Bourdon, Nicolas Loir parti...

French School of the 19th Century Variation on the Final Act of La Juive, (18)86 Oil on canvas 32.5 x 46 cm Signed and dated lower right. Dedicated "à l’ami Carnot" Provenance Pri...

French School, late 18th century, circle of Jean-Baptiste Greuze (1725–1805) Young Girl with a Basket of Fruit Oil on canvas, preparatory work, 39 x 31 cm Provenance: Private colle...

Edouard Bernard DEBAT-PONSAN (Toulouse 1847 – 1913 Paris) By the Fireside Ink, wash, and gouache on paper 15 3/8 x 15 3/4 in 39 x 40 cm Monogrammed lower right “DP” Provenance Private collection, France This work is a preparatory study related to the artist’s painting Before the Ball...

A very fine Italian 17th century oval oil on canvas "Head of Christ Crowned with Thorns" Circle of Pierre Mignard (French, 1612-1695) within...

Justus Juncker (1703-1763, Germany) Attributed to Scholar Sharpening His Quill Penn Expertise: We would like to thank Dr. Fred G Meijer for his valuab...

Justus Juncker (1703-1763, Germany) Attributed to Scholar Sharpening His Quill Penn Expertise: We would like to thank Dr. Fred G Meijer for his valuab...

Jacob Ochtervelt (Workshop) The Grape Seller oil on canvas unframed: 80.7 x 61 cm.; 31 ¾ x 24 in. framed: 109.5 x 89 cm.; 43 1/8 x 35 in. Essay: This captivating piece, originating from the studio of the revered Dutch artist Jacob Ochtervelt, mirrors the composition of a signed and dated 1669 canvas by Ochtervelt that is presently housed in the Hermitage museum. Its subject, "The Grape Seller" immerses us in a typical 17th-century interior, replete with characters from various strata of society. At the center, a fruit vendor is depicted bending over to weigh grapes for the buyer. A child hands some of the grapes to her mother to taste, their attentive maid standing by. The backdrop showcases typical Ochtervelt details: a hint of the city visible through the doorway, light filtering in through an overhead window, and a playful dog at their side. The exquisite quality of the piece is evident in the minutiae, such as the intricate detailing of the mother's earring, which in reality spans only a few millimeters yet boasts impressive attention to detail. Initially, Sotheby's considered this work to be an autograph piece by Ochtervelt. But due to some uncertainty, it was auctioned as Workshop of Jacob Ochtervelt. On the other hand, the esteemed Cabinet Turquin in Paris leans toward attributing the piece directly to Jacob Ochtervelt himself. The painting is framed in an authentic period frame, which has been delicately restored by Stockholm's Förgyllning och Bildhuggeri. The frame retains its age-old patina and, while in used condition, has minor imperfections adding to its charm. Another interesting thing worth to mention is the painting's provenance. It was once owned by the 1st Viscount Rothermere (1868-1940), the founder of the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror...