Joseph Paelinck

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 recently restored and is generally in lovely condition. The canvas has been lined. The paint layer is very slightly visibly cracked, but in beautiful state. In the lower left corner there is a vertical break running from the left arm of the seated figure down to the bottom edges and the varnish in this area is a little scuffed. Although there are a couple of very isolated dots of retouch, the remainder of this picture, despite the damage in the lower left, appears to be in almost perfect condition. With a small amount of attention to the lower varnish, the picture should be hung as is.
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.

Paelinck combines two versions of a myth concerning a musical contest between Apollo and Pan in which, like Marsyas, the latter is defeated. In one account, the contest was judged by Tmolus, a mountain God, but King Midas disagreed with the verdict and was rewarded with ass's ears by Apollo. According to another version the contest was judged by Midas and the Muses. Paelinck has included all these characters in his composition, placing Pan and the Muses to the left and Apollo to the right, who is commanding the ears to an astounded Midas in the center of the picture.

In this painting the artist was inspired by two diverse stylistic tendencies: on the one hand an interest in pictorial realism is illustrated by the detailed drapery and historical precision of both costumes and accessories, while on the other hand there are elements of classicism and seventeenth century precedents in particular in the figure of Apollo. Paelinck may have taken his inspiration from Andrea Sacchi's portrait of Marcantonio Pasqualini (1614-1691) Crowned by Apollo (New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art), in which Pasqualini, the singer, represents the triumph of the nuova musica. This may have been a conscious humorous gesture for what Pan failed to do in Paelinck's composition, the singer achieves in Sacchi's earlier work.

As a pupil of David, the painting's Neoclassical quality stems from his late work, once again treating mythological subjects which are no longer models of virtue, but whose point is to please without moral reservation. It was no accident that the composition was also inspired by one of Charles Eisen's illustrations for Les Metamorphoses d'Ovide (1769-1771). In this painting, the artist has both reflected and significantly contributed to the Restoration taste by providing a theme appropriate to the literary culture of the Ancien Régime.