Christian van Donck

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This panel has not been restored for a number of years. Made from three sections of oak joined horizontally, these joins are visible and need repair. There are four vertical wooden reinforcements on the reverse which are ineffective. There are some cracks in the panel which are clearly visible, one running through the table top, another running through the forehead of the figure on the right and another running through the forehead of the figure on the left. The paint layer itself seems to be unrestored for the most part and while it is a little transparent in places, particularly in the lower left and in the hair of the central figure, it does not appear to have been abraded or retouched in any noticeable way. Under ultraviolet light there are a few recent losses in the lower left which have been crudely restored. Although this picture requires structural restoration as well as cleaning and retouching, generally it is in good condition.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

We are grateful to Fred Meijer of the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie, The Hague, who, based upon photographs, has confirmed the attribution of this painting to Christian van Donck.

Almost nothing is known about van Donck, whose tiny known oeuvre, compiled by Mr. Meijer, consists of only a few signed paintings.  Money changers or accountants seem to have preoccupied the artist, who depicted the subject on quite a few occasions.  (For example, a van Donck signed Christian v. D... and titled Les Changeurs was sold, Paris, Drouot-Richelieu, June 30, 1995, lot 48 (as Dutch School, 17th century, Circle of Rembrandt).