Franz Kessler

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 pair of paintings has not been restored for a number of years. The lady has been cleaned less recently than the man, nonetheless both pictures require attention. An original join in the panel of the man, running through the right elbow in the left side, has opened and requires consolidation. The two original joins in the panel of the lady, situated on either side of her head, are visible yet not as active. On the reverse of both panels, fairly heavy-handed sliding battens have been applied at the top and the bottom and vertical reinforcements have been added to the crack on the left side of the panel of the man and through the two joins mentioned above, in the panel of the lady. The condition of the portrait of the lady is quite reasonable, although some graininess has developed in the face and slight thinness to the paint layer in the ruff is visible. It seems that the condition is not as good in the panel of the man and although clean, some abrasion has occurred in the past. The restoration that has been applied thus far is not bad. A much more concerted conservation effort is encouraged to both pictures in order to resolve the issues that one has come to expect from pictures of this period.
"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."

Franz Kessler was a student of Gortzius Geldorp and spent most of his career in Cologne, where he made a living painting portraits of the wealthy citizens of Cologne and neighboring cities.  Kessler's portraits, many of which date to the 1620s, may be found in the Szépmüvészeti, Budapest, and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne.  Another handsome double-portrait of a husband and wife is in the collection of the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts.  Each of these portraits, like the present, are dated and inscribed with the sitter's age, and often times, with the monogram or shield of the sitter's family.

We are grateful to Dr. Rudi Ekkart of the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie, who, based on photographs, has attributed the present portraits to Franz Kessler.