Vilhelm Hammershøi

Sale: Winkel and Magnussen, Copenhagen, 24 May 1932, lot 66
Sale: Christie's, London, 16 March 1989, lot 124
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

Copenhagen, Kunstforeningen, Mindeudstilling, 1916, no. 152
Modum, Blaafarvevaerket, The Magic of Quietness, Ida Lorentzen and Vilhelm Hammershøi, 2005, no. 46, illustrated in the catalogue
Copenhagen, Ordrupgaad & Barcelona, Centre de Cultura Contemporània, Hammershøi-Dreyer, The Magic of Images, 2006-7, no. 18 (Copenhagen); no. 17 (Barcelona), illustrated in the catalogues

Alfred Bramsen & Sophus Michaëlis, Vilhelm Hammershøi. Kunstneren og hans værk, Copenhagen & Christiania, 1918, p. 97, no. 204, catalogued and discussed
Poul Vad, Hammershøi, Vaerk og liv, Copenhagen, 1988, p. 272, no. 177, illustrated
Philippe Delerm, Intérieur, Paris, 2001, p. 56, illustrated

The following condition report has been prepared by Hamish Dewar Ltd., of 13 & 14 Mason's Yard, London SW1Y 6BU: UNCONDITIONAL AND WITHOUT PREJUDICE Structural Condition The canvas would appear to have a semi-transparent film of wax on the reverse together with a wax strip-lining. There is also grey tape around the turnover edges. Paint surface The paint surface has an even varnish layer. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows what would appear to be retouchings on the darker folds of the woman's dress, on the desk and in the darker shadows to the right of the desk. There would also appear to be an area of retouching on the grey wall and a number of very small specks of inpainting and other small scattered retouchings. It is important to note however that retouchings are difficult to interpret under ultra-violet light on paintings by Hammershoi which fluoresce unevenly due to the nature of the artist's materials and technique and there is a possibility that these are the artist's original pigments. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in reasonably good stable condition but with a number of areas of retouching.
"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."

Painted in 1900 in the artist's home at Strandgade 30.

The same corner of Hammershøi's salon features time and again in the artist's oeuvre, each time furnished differently. The apartment was Hammershøi's blank canvas, and he took pleasure in arranging and re-arranging the furniture and the paintings on the walls, each time producing a new composition of remarkable originality.

Describing the essence of Hammershøi's enigmatic interiors, Kirk Varnedoe commented: 'For Hammershøi the interior provides a retreat from modernity and the outside world. It is an inner sanctum of serene classical design, of fine objects filled with memories, and of mahogany furniture imbued with the past.' (Kirk Varnedoe, Northern Light, New Haven & London, 1988, p. 108).