Pieter Jacobsz. Duyfhuysen

The Archduchess Katalin of Austria and Bohemia (1909-2000);
By descent until sold, London, Sotheby's, 10 April 2003, lot 41A, where bought by the present owner.

The painting is slightly cooler in tone than the catalogue illustration suggests. The stable, flat support consists of two horizontal panels, cradled to the reverse. The paint surface is clean and secure, although some of the pigments have been lightly abraded and others have become rather translucent, to the extent that pentimenti are now quite obvious around the cloak and hat of the leftmost figure. There are some restored damages and numerous retouchings in the sky, along the grain of the wood, as well as extensive retouchings in the darker areas to the right of the painting. The foreground is better preserved, with a small spot retouchings to the dog's hind legs and central figure group. The pedestal to the right hand side of the painting has been quite considerably strengthened. Offered in a modern black painted 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."

This is, as Willem van der Watering and Fred G. Meijer confirmed at the time of the 2003 sale, an early work by the Rotterdam genre painter Duyfhuijsen, dating from circa 1630.  It is the only known work that he signed using the Latinized form of his surname, meaning `dovecote', and is markedly different from his mature works, for the most part peasant interiors with maids engaged in domestic chores.  His oeuvre was reconstructed by W.L. van der Watering `Pieter Duyfhuijsen (1608-1677): een reconstructie van het oeuvre van een vergeten Rotterdamse schilder van boereninterieurs', in Jahrbuch Preussischer Kulturbestiz, 1987, pp. 357-383.