A vintage piece from one the handful of important Dutch still-life artists does not make for a prime-time masterpiece. Nevertheless, such a work by Gerrit Willemsz Heda (lot 77) is a realistic opportunity in today’s Old Masters market and is part of an abundant sale of quality paintings in the more affordable range, on sale at Christie’s Amsterdam today.

In the pantheon of art history, Heda was an accomplished painter who wouldn’t be  a first ballot Hall of Famer, but would get voted in by his peers eventually. This guy was an important old timer who paved the way for the still-life greats–the Kalf’s, Van Aelst’s, and Claez’s of the world, and had a considerable influence on others, including the early work of Frans Hals, who probably trails only Rembrandt and Vermeer as the greatest painter from the Dutch Golden Age.

Other diamonds in the rough from this sale include a panel piece carrying an anonymous title attributed to the “Hispanic-Flemish School of the 16th Century.” Quite the mysterious and rare origin to OMNP. We wouldn’t want to speculate that this has been misattributed, but this work was definitely done by someone with considerable skill. Compositional balance, the curious expression of St. Michael, the detailed lattice work of the gold panel in the background, and the beautiful pallette shown are all highlights. This work is a bargain for anyone with a good eye.

Speaking of connoisseruship, another potential sleeper might be found with the yellowish flowerpiece from the studio of Jan Breughel II (lot 74). This work is begging to be cleaned by a dealer and have its price marked up at an art fair near you.

Click on each image to be redirected to Christie’s website for further lot information. For further consultation on this sale, please contact james@oldmastersnewperspectives.com

.

LOT 0009

Attributed to Jan Miense Molenaer (Haarlem 1610-1676)
A quack drawing stones from the head of a patient
with monogram ‘MR’ (lower left)
oil on panel
33 x 26 cm.

Estimate: €6,000 – €8,000
($7,975 – $10,633)

.

Lot 11

Paulus Potter (Enkhuizen 1625-1654 Amsterdam)
A tethered bull covering a cow in a farmyard
signed and dated ‘paul.. potter : f’. 1645′ (lower right)
oil on panel
28.2 x 25.9 cm.

Estimate:

€8,000 – €12,000

($10,633 – $15,950)

.

Lot 12

Circle of Pieter Coecke Van Aelst (Aelst 1502-1550 Brussels)
A triptych: The Adoration of the Magi with donors and two male donors on the outer wings
oil on panel, shaped tops
120.2 x 42.3 cm.; 122 x 85.4 cm.; 120.1 x 42.5 cm.
the outer wings both inscribed with the sitters’ age ‘AETATIS SVAE.23.’ and ‘AETATIS.SVAE 38.’ and with coats-of-arms

.

Lot 14

Hispanic-Flemish School, early 16th Century
Saint Michael fighting the Devil
oil on panel, lunette shape
40.2 x 24,2 cm.

Estimate:

€7,000 – €10,000

($9,304 – $13,291)

.

Lot 16

Jacob Hoefnagel (Antwerp 1575-c. 1630 The Netherlands)
‘Sine Baccho et Cerere friget Venus’
indistinctly signed and dated ‘IA HOEF: F MDCV’ (upper left)
oil on copper
27 x 35.2 cm.

Estimate:

€10,000 – €15,000

($13,291 – $19,937)

.

Lot 18

Circle of Anthony van Dyck (Antwerp 1599-1641 Blackfriars)
A study of a Jesuit priest
oil on paper laid down on panel
49.2 x 37.4 cm.

Estimate: €20,000 – €30,000

($26,583 – $39,874)

.

Lot 21

Dirk Verhaert (Haarlem? c. 1610-c. 1680 Leiden?)
The Burning of Troy
signed with initials ‘D V H’ (lower right)
oil on panel
46.4 x 62.5 cm.

Estimate:

€6,000 – €8,000

($7,975 – $10,633)

-

Lot 15

Follower of Quinten Massys
The Madonna of the Cherries
oil on panel
84.5 x 64.8 cm.
traces of an Antwerp stamp and an old inventory number ‘175′ and date ‘1540′ on the reverse

Estimate:

€20,000 – €30,000

($26,583 – $39,874)

.

Lot 23

Attributed to Anthonie de Lorme (Doornik 1620-1673/6 Rotterdam)
A classical church interior with elegant figures
with signature ‘H: Steenwy.’ (lower left)
oil on panel
65.5 x 85 cm.

Estimate:

€5,000 – €7,000

($6,646 – $9,304)

.

Lot 24

Jan-Baptiste van der Meiren (Antwerp 1664-1708)
A wooded landscape with elegant company on horseback
oil on panel
27 x 44 cm.

Estimate:

€6,000 – €8,000

($7,975 – $10,633).

.

Lot 34

Bartholomeus Van Bassen (The Hague ? c. 1590-1652 The Hague)
An interior with an elegant company playing backgammon
signed and dated ‘B. VAN Bassen 1625′ (lower right)
oil on panel
55.2 x 82.6 cm.

Estimate:

€20,000 – €30,000

($26,583 – $39,874)

.

Lot 35

Circle of Jan Davidsz. de Heem (Utrecht 1606-1683/4 Antwerp)
A lobster, a crab, an oyster, a pewter pitcher and various fruits on a draped table
oil on panel
70.8 x 90.2 cm.

Estimate:

€15,000 – €20,000

($19,937 – $26,583)

.

Lot 39

Abel Grimmer (Antwerp c. 1570-before 1619)
An Allegory of Summer with three Signs of the Zodiac: A wooded landscape with peasants shearing sheep and harvesting corn
oil on panel
25.2 x 35.8 cm.

Estimate:

€40,000 – €60,000

($53,165 – $79,748)

.

Lot 43

Kerstiaen de Keuninck (Courtrai c. 1560-1635/42 Antwerp)
The Penitent Mary Magdalene in the wilderness
oil on panel
53 x 37.5 cm.

Estimate:

€4,000 – €6,000

($5,317 – $7,975)

.

.

.

.

Lot 46

Jan Fyt (Antwerp 1611-1661)
Game with hunting equipment in a rocky landscape
signed ‘Joannes·FyT·’ (lower right)
oil on canvas
53.3 x 68.2 cm.

Estimate:

€10,000 – €15,000

($13,291 – $19,937)

.

Lot 61

Frans De Hulst (Haarlem c. 1610-1661)
A river landscape with fishermen attending their nets, a house nearby
oil on panel
44 x 63.4 cm.

Estimate:

€30,000 – €50,000

($39,874 – $66,457)

.

Lot 74

Studio of Jan Breughel II (Brussels 1568-1625 Antwerp)
Tulips, roses, violets and other flowers in a glass vase on a wooden ledge
with initials ‘IvK’ (lower right)
oil on copper, laid down on panel
28 x 22.4 cm.

Estimate:

€8,000 – €12,000

($10,633 – $15,950)

.

Lot 77

Gerrit Willemsz. Heda (active Haarlem 1642-1649)
A pewter jug, a silver cup, a ham on a silver plate, a knife on a pewter plate and a roll of bread, all on a partially draped wooden table
traces of collectors’ seals on the reverse
oil on panel
79.3 x 59.2 cm.

Estimate:

€40,000 – €60,000

($53,165 – $79,748)

.

Lot 84

Attributed to Richard Brakenburgh (Haarlem 1650-1702)
Peasants making merry in an interior
with signature ‘R: Brakenburgh’ (lower right)
oil on canvas
38.8 x 51.5 cm.

Estimate:

€4,000 – €6,000

($5,317 – $7,975)

.

Lot 86

Heinrich Wilhelm Schweickardt (Hamm 1746-1797 London)
A winter landscape with peasants skating on a frozen river, a village and a windmill beyond
signed ‘HW Schweickhardt’ (lower left)
oil on canvas
46.5 x 62 cm.

Estimate:

€5,000 – €7,000

($6,646 – $9,304)

.

Lot 185

Herman Frederik Carel ten Kate (The Hague 1822-1891)
The negotiation
signed ‘Herman. ten Kate. ft.’ (lower right)
oil on panel
65 x 110 cm.

Estimate:

€8,000 – €12,000

($10,633 – $15,950)

.

Lot 199

Jan Jacob Schenkel (Amsterdam 1829-1900)
A sunlit church interior
signed ‘Schenkel’ (lower right)
oil on panel
51.5 x 63 cm.

Estimate:

€4,000 – €6,000

($5,317 – $7,975)