Jan Philips van Thielen

Isaac Cookson (1776-1851) of Meldon Park, Northumberland;
Thence by direct descent to the present owners. 

 

"The following condition report has been provided by Henry Gentle, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. The original canvas has been lined. The canvas has two contemporary additions producing horizontal seams 20cm down from the top and up from the bottom. Restoration to disguise these seams has discoloured. Overall the paint surface is sound with some slight lifting paint in some areas leading to actual minor paint loss lower right. The paint is in overall good condition, the impasto is crisp, the colours strong and the delicate glazes are mostly unaffected. The varnish has degraded and no longer saturates and its removal would enhance the painting considerably. Gilt moulded frame-some losses."
"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."

Van Thielen began his career as an apprentice to the flower painter Daniel Seghers before being made a master of the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp in 1641 or 1642. He is known to have collaborated with other artists, including  his brother-in-law Erasmus Quellinus and  the Dutch artist Cornelis van Poelenburg, who would often paint the figures within his garlands.

Various elements of this composition recur elsewhere in the artist's oeuvre. The tripartite triangular flower arrangement encasing a cartouche can be found in a work offered Paris, Tajan, 24 June 2004, lot 22, and again, though inverted, in a collaborative work with Erasmus Quellinus which was sold in these Rooms, 7 July 1993, lot 56. The Holy Family appears surrounded by flowers in the centre of another work offered in these Rooms, 28 October 1987, lot 130.