Jan van Os

With Daphne Alazraki, New York;
Where purchased by the present collector.

The painting appears to have been restored in the recent past and presents a fresh image beneath a clear varnish. The panel is flat and stable, made up of a single board an is beveled on all four edges. Inspection under UV reveals extensive though delicately applied feathered retouching throughout the sky, perhaps attending to thinning in that area. There is further more minor retouching and strengthening scattered in the structure of the boats. The painting is ready to hang and is offered in a carved black 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.

Although principally known for his floral still lifes, Jan van Os began his career painting seascapes in the manner of Willem van de Velde II and Jan van de Cappelle and returned to the genre on a number of occasions throughout his life. The artist was also a skilled draftsman, producing many drawings and watercolors; in the present painting one can see his freehand underdrawing under infrared-reflectography, particularly in the figures on the overcrowded ferry boat and in the pilings in the foreground.