Old Master Paintings Day Auction

Old Master Paintings Day Auction

Property of a Gentleman

North Italian School, 17th century

A pair of bird scenes: Various species of exotic and native birds, including macaws, a cockatoo, a crane, a pelican, a kiwi, a cassowary and a peacock, together with pigeons, an owl, a swan and other birds; Various species of exotic and native birds, including a turkey, macaws, owls, herons, and a toucan, together with partridges, chickens, ducks and small songbirds

Lot Closed

December 7, 10:13 AM GMT

Estimate

30,000 - 40,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property of a Gentleman


North Italian School, 17th century

A pair of bird scenes: Various species of exotic and native birds, including macaws, a cockatoo, a crane, a pelican, a kiwi, a cassowary and a peacock, together with pigeons, an owl, a swan and other birds; Various species of exotic and native birds, including a turkey, macaws, owls, herons, and a toucan, together with partridges, chickens, ducks and small songbirds


a pair, both oil on paragone (a type of marble)

one unframed: 29 x 39.7 cm.; 11⅜ x 15⅝ in.

framed: 38.9 x 49.7 cm.; 15¼ x 19⅝ in.

the other unframed: 30.5 x 42.3 cm.; 12 x 16⅝ in.

framed: 39.3 x 51.3 cm.; 15½ x 20¼ in.

(2)

With Rafael Valls, London;

Anonymous sale, Amsterdam, Art Europe Auctions, 13 December 2015, lot 5;

Where acquired by the present collector.

Rather unusually, these paintings are thought to have been executed on paragone: a type of black marble that originated from Belgium. Although slate was a more common choice of medium for painters working in Italy during this period, the thickness of these panels suggests that an alternative stone support has been used.

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