A quick look at Christie’s sale of preceding sale lower-priced lots to it’s main sale of Old Masters finds a few gems that are quite affordable. A faithful recreation of Lucas Cranach II’s style depicts the charming allegory of Charity with her four children in a moment of mystical contentment.
A 17th century Neapolitan work uses a tenebrist palette to create a different type of otherworldly feeling, one that feels surreal and Dali-esque. OMNP is also a fan of the rural scene done by a follower of Meindert Hobemma-an accomplished, yet slept-on landscape painter from the Dutch Baroque.
Follower of Lucas Cranach II
Charity
oil on panel
20½ x 13¾ in. (52.1 x 34.9 cm.)
Estimate:
£4,000 – £6,000
$5,888 – $8,832)
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Follower of Rembrandt van Rijn
A man stroking a cat in an interior, an empty birdcage hanging by an open window beyond
oil on panel
21½ x 30½ in. (54.6 x 77.4 cm.)
£3,000 – £5,000
($4,416 – $7,360)
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Follower of Meindert Hobbema
A wooded landscape with a man on horseback conversing with a peasant on a track
with indistinct signature ‘..H’ (lower right)
oil on canvas
26 x 27 in. (66.1 x 68.6 cm.)
£4,000 – £6,000
($5,888 – $8,832)
.
School of Haarlem, c.1650
A wooded landscape with figures and a dog on a track
with signature ‘hoBBema’ (lower right)
oil on panel
27 7/8 x 22½ in. (70.9 x 57.3 cm.), with an addition of 1¼ in. (3.2 cm) at the top
.
Willem Romeyn (Haarlem 1624-1664)
A shepherd and his flock at rest by a water trough
signed ‘W ROMYN’ (lower right, on the trough)
oil on panel, unframed
14¼ x 12 5/8 in. (36.2 x 32.1 cm.)
with inventory number ‘112′ (lower left)
Studio of Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem (Haarlem 1620-1683 Amsterdam)
An Italianate river landscape with drovers and their cattle in the foreground
with signature ‘Berghem’ (lower left, on a rock)
oil on canvas
24 x 19¼ in. (61 x 48.9 cm.)
£4,000 – £6,000
($5,888 – $8,832)
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Circle of Marmaduke Craddock (Somerset c.1660-c.1717 London)
A peacock, hens, fowl and other birds in a wooded river landscape
oil on canvas
31 x 42 in. (78.8 x 106.7 cm.)
Estimate:
£4,000 – £6,000
($5,888 – $8,832)
.
Bolognese School, 17th Century
Saint Sebastian
oil on canvas, tondo
20¼ in. (51.4 cm.) diam.
Estimate:
£1,500 – £2,000
($2,208 – $2,944)
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Neapolitan School, 17th Century
The Penitent Magdalen
oil on canvas
43¼ x 35¾ in. (109.8 x 90.8 cm.)
£2,000 – £3,000
($2,944 – $4,416)
.
Follower of Hubert Robert
A capriccio of classical ruins with soldiers resting by a giant urn
oil on canvas
40 7/8 x 34 in. (103.8 x 86.4 cm.)
Estimate:
£4,000 – £6,000
($5,888 – $8,832)
.
Circle of Jan Weenix (Amsterdam 1640/2-1719)
Still life of a dead pheasant and other birds, with hawking accoutrements, on a draped stone ledge
oil on canvas, unframed
42¼ x 31 5/8 in. (107.3 x 80.3 cm.)
Estimate:
£5,000 – £8,000
($7,360 – $11,776)
.
John Milton (fl. 1767-1776 Peckham)
A Mediterranean coastal landscape with fishermen in the foreground
signed ‘J. Milton pinxit.’ (lower left)
oil on canvas
25 x 30 in. (63.5 x 76.3 cm.)
Estimate:
£2,000 – £3,000
($2,944 – $4,416)
.
Circle of Pier Francesco Mola (Coldrerio, nr. Lugano 1612-1666 Rome)
The Penitent Magdalen in a landscape
oil on canvas
25 x 20¼ in. (63.5 x 51.4 cm.)
£2,000 – £3,000
($2,944 – $4,416)
.
Circle of Marco Ricci (Belluno 1676-1730 Venice)
An extensive rocky river landscape with figures on a bank
oil on canvas
40 x 34 in. (101.6 x 86.3 cm.)
£3,000 – £4,000
($4,416 – $5,888)
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