Cornelis Gerritsz. Decker

With W. Boswell & Sons, Norwich (according to labels on the reverse);
Anonymous sale ("The Property of a Lady"), October 12, 1983, lot 63, for ₤12,000;
Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, January 15, 1985, lot 49, for $13,000.

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 painting has been quite recently restored and should most likely be hung in its current state. The canvas has a mid-twentieth century glue lining which nicely stabilizes the surface. The paint layer has been cleaned, retouched and varnished. The retouches are mostly visible under ultraviolet light and address a horizontal line running through the clouds in the sky, which was most likely caused by a slightly unstable canvas join, which has now been properly stabilized and restored. The restoration associated with this only extends into the trees by approximately one inch. In the upper left corner there is a restoration on the edge which measures approximately four by one inch. In addition to these restorations, there are some retouches in a few spots running along the bottom edge in the pathway on the right. There are also some isolated marks throughout the rest of the sky that have been addressed yet none of them are of consequence and are in fact not unusual for this kind of picture. The varnish is quite milky under ultraviolet light in the darker colors yet we do not suspect that any but the most insignificant restorations are contained in this varnish. Overall the condition is very good.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present pair of wooded landscapes, impressive for their size and the skill with which they are rendered, are lovely examples of the landscape paintings produced by Haarlem artists in the second half of the 17th century.   

The lead figure of the Haarlem school of landscape painting was Jacob van Ruisdael, of whom Cornelis Decker was a pupil.  Ruisdael's influence on Decker is palpable in each of these panels, both in terms of composition and style, the dense foliage and sombre tonality recalling Ruisdael's own wooded landscapes. Although little is known of Decker's life, with his best works such as these he is clearly a worthy competitor to Ruisdael.