Lot 173
  • 173

Willem Claesz. Heda

Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 GBP
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Description

  • Willem Claesz. Heda
  • Still life of oysters, a nautilus cup, a roemer, lemon and other objects
  • signed and dated lower right: HEDA 1662
  • oil on oak panel
  • 22 in by 28 in

Provenance

Henry Richard Greville, 3rd Earl of Warwick (1779–1853);
Thence by descent, offered for sale ('By Order of the Trustees of The Warwick Castle Settlement'), London, Christies, 21 June 1968, lot 58 (withdrawn).

Exhibited

New York, Metropolitan Museum, on long term loan.

Literature

Cooper’s, History of Warwick and Guide to the Castle, illustrated, 1850, p.106, hanging in the Billiard Room;
W. Kendall, Inventory of Warwick Castle, ms., 1853, as ('Still Life by Heem (sic) 1662'), in the Billiard Room;
Anon., Inventory of Warwick Castle, ms., circa 1860, in the Billiard Room;
Anon., Inventory of the contents of Warwick Castle, ms., 1900, in the Morning Room.

Condition

The panel is uncradled and is flat and stable. The paint surface is dirty in good condition, with no flaking or loss of paint. The paint surface is still wonderful and thick in details like the lemon peel, the oyster shell and the porcelain bowl. There are spot retouchings throughout background but the painting is covered in a very thick varnish which impedes more detailed viewing under UV light.
"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."

Catalogue Note

This is a mature work by Heda, incorporating several of the objects and props that fill a number of works from preceding years, such as the elaborate mother-of-pearl nautilus cup. In late works such as this Heda has clearly abandoned the monochrome banketjes that dominated his youth and early maturity, towards the more sumptuous pronk still lifes popularised by Jan Davidsz. de Heem and Willem Kalf.