Willem Bartsius

Oscar and Maria Salzer, Los Angeles;
By whom given to the Fresno Metropolitan Museum of Art and Science, 1983 (FMM 82.17).

Charlotte, NC, The Mint Museum of Art, The Salzer Collection, Trompe-L'Oeil and Still Life Paintings,  A Loan Exhibition, 14 February - 7 March 1965, cat. no. 10 (as by Gerard Dou);
Los Angeles, Fisher Gallery, University of Southern California; Seattle, WA, Seattle Art Museum; Honolulu, HI, Honolulu Academy of Art; Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Reality and Deception, 16 October 1974 – 20 April 1975, cat. no. 11, reproduced (as by Leonard Bramer).

Portraits of Objects, Oscar and Maria Salzer Collection of Still Life and Trompe-L'Oeil Paintings, Fresno 1984, cat. no. 6, reproduced (as by Leonard Bramer).

Panel is cradled and flat. a horizontal panel join runs across center and can be seen with naked eye mostly at right side; another horizontal join or crack is also visible about an inch under the above mentioned join which extends from right side into composition into the lower part of the maid's face. a few other small horizontal cracks can be seen at left side. under a thick, uneven old varnish. there is overall very good preservation of the paint surface with very good detail in figures and still life elements. under UV: can't see through the old varnish; some more recent retouches on top of the old varnish can be seen along join and crack which both go through the heads and faces of figures; a larger area of retouching can be seen in background at far left side and some small retouches here and there to objects on table. a few retouches in background at upper edge. In a carved and gilt wood frame.
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 Peter Sutton for suggesting the attribution to Bartsius, based on firsthand inspection.