Jan Woutersz., called Stap

William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire (1808-1891);
By descent to his grandson Lord Richard Cavendish (1871-1946), Holker Hall, Lancashire, where the painting hung in the School-Room;
By whom sold, London, Christie's, 12 December 1930, lot 43, where purchased by Horsley.

G.F. Waagen, Galleries and Cabinets of Art, London, 1857, vol. IV, p. 426, where listed as executed between 1530-40 (sic).

The actual painting is brighter and shows more detail than the catalogue illustration suggests. The panel seems to consist of 3 vertical planks and is bevelled along the edges. The panel is stable and flat, and old batons have been removed from the join. No damages are visible to the naked eye and the paint layer is secure, though there are some areas of abrasion, e.g. in the background. The paint surface is under a glossy, slightly dirty layer of varnish. Some small scattered retouchings can be made out in the face of the boy, in his coat, in the hat of the old man en in the background upper centre. Inspection under UV light is partially impeded by the thick varnish layer, but does reveal additional retouching in the background and in the book in the centre, and a few tiny ones in the old man's face. Offered in a plain wood cassetta frame with gilt fillets in fair condition.
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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."