Carstian Luyckx

Anonymous sale, Berlin, Lepke, March 20, 1900, lot 66 (as by Joris van Son);
Max Steinthal, Berlin;
By whose estate sold ("The Property of The late Max Steinthal sold by order of his son"), London, Christie's, November 26, 1971, lot 78 (as by Joris van Son);
With Leger Galleries, London, 1972 (as by Luyckx).

Apollo, June 1972, p. 57, reproduced (as by Luyckx);
K. van der Stighelen, Portretkunst in Vlaanderen van 1420 tot nu : Hoofd en Bijzaak, Zwolle 2008, pp. 180-182, reproduced.

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 well restored yet not recently. The retouches are mostly very accurate but they have become visible over the years on the edge of the sky on the left side and in the two sections of blue sky in the upper portion. The canvas is lined with glue. This would not have been a picture with a lot of texture to begin with, despite its smoothness at present. The paint layer is stable. Under ultraviolet light the varnish is slightly milky and no strong signs of retouching are detectable; however, as always with a picture of this period, it is expected that some retouches have been added. There are no structural damages. The edges have been restored to allow the picture to fit the frame more accurately, but within the still life itself, although the paint layer is slightly subdued by the lining, the likelihood of any significant retouches is slim. The picture could be hung as is, but the retouches in the sky should be corrected.
"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."

This beautiful still life, thought at one time to be a work by Joris van Son, was recognized as a work by Carstian Luyckx when with Leger Galleries in the 1970s (see Provenance).  Fred Meijer of the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie, The Hague supports the attributuion to Luyckx, based on images, and dates it to the early 1650s.  However, the handling of the fruit is more consistent with the work of Peter Willebeeck, another still life master in the Antwerp guild, and it is possible the two artists collaborated on this still life.

We would like to thank Dr. Monika Tatzkow for her help in researching the provenance of this painting.