Workshop of Jacob Grimmer

Anonymous Sale, London, Sotheby's, 17th April 1991, lot 84 (as Flemish School, 17th century), when acquired by the present owners.

The support consists of three vertical panels joined to the reverse with a series of horizontal batons and bevelled on three out of four edges with a very slight convex bow. The paint surface is secure and generally in good condition although a little abraded in the browns f the house back left and the black of the figures lower right. The white pigments are well preserved. The paint has cracked lower left on the lower left hand side of the join. Inspection under UV light reveals some minor scattered retouchings throughout and some more major work back left in the house, lower right in the figures and in the red/brown of the spandrels. Offered in a wooden frame in good condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The presence of the signs of the zodiac in the sky indicate that this panel once formed part of set of the Four Seasons. Bertier de Sauvigny (Jacob et Abel Grimmer, Brussels 1991, pp. 93-94, nos. 1 and 2, figs. 37-39) records two such sets in this roundel format, of which only the second remains intact. Another version of Winter is in the Museo Civico, Pordenone, and this also has the same decorated spandrels as the present work¹. The landscape in each of these pictures is the same, but the disposition and handling of the staffage appears to differ in each. Bertier de Sauvigny dates these roundels to the 1580s and suggests that in some cases the figures may have been the work of Marten van Cleve.

1. A Spring from this set was sold London, Christie's, 24 April 2009, lot 22. The other two panels from the set remain unlocated.