Studio of Pieter Meulener

Enrique Larreta, Argentina;
Thence by descent to the present collector.

Panel has been cradled. under a very dirty old varnish. there is generally very good retention of the paint surface with nice impasto in most areas of the painting. Some slight thinesses are noticeable in some of the browns. there is a small L-shaped crack in panel at upper right corner and another small horizontal crack at lower right corner. some old discolored retouching can be seen in this area. ultraviolet light reveals retouching along L-shaped crack upper right and on crack at lower right as mentioned. some retouchings in sky, a few in foreground and some at top of church and trees. it is very difficult to see if there is anything under the old varnish. painting has not been attended to in a long time and would benefit from a light cleaning and re-addressing of the old discolored retouches. In a carved faux ebony wood frame with gilt at inner edges.
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.

We are grateful to Jan de Maere for suggesting this attribution based on photographs. He pointed out that the present painting was inspired by a painting by Pieter Stevens representing a landscape with Roman ruins in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (inv. no. 82/08).