Paul Bril

Graham Baron Ash (1889-1980), Wingfield Castle, Norfolk, by 1953;
His sale, London, Christie's, 4 October 1967, lot 168, to Leger for 1200 Guineas;
With Leger Galleries, London, June 1968;
With P.&D. Colnaghi & Co., London, 1978;
Private Collection, Rome.

Cardiff, National Museum of Wales, Ideal and Classical Landscape, February - April 1960, no. 17 (lent by Baron Ash);
Norwich, Norwich Castle Museum, Fine Paintings from East Anglia, 30 May - 30 August 1964, no. 8;
London, P.&D. Colnaghi & Co., Paintings by Old Masters, 7 June - 7 July 1978, no. 17.

M. Röthlisberger, Claude Lorrain: The Paintings,  London 1961, vol. I, p. 142, under cat. no. LV22;
The Burlington Magazine, June 1968, vol. CX, no. 783, p. 375, reproduced pl. XIV (advertisement);
P.&D. Colnaghi & Co., Paintings by Old Masters, London 1978, cat. no. 17;
A. Laing, In trust for the Nation: paintings from National Trust Houses, London 1995, p. 102;
F. Cappelletti, Paul Bril e la pittura di paesaggio a Roma 1580-1630, Rome 2005, p. 290, cat. no. 137, reproduced.

The canvas has been newly re-stretched and relined. The thick and slightly yellowish varnish impedes assessment under ultra violet light, but the paint surface has been cleaned and appears to be in excellent condition throughout, with no signs of wear or major damages. There are some signs of local restoration, for example to the left margin and the flute-playing shepherd boy, but these appear to be minor and unobtrusive. This lot is offered in an old plain gilt wood frame in good condition. .
"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."

There are two similar landscapes, with some differences in the stafffage, and in the foliage and construction of the distant rocky outcrop, the first is in the Palazzo Pitti, Florence,¹ and the second is in the collection of the Earl of Egremont, Petworth House.² Both the Pitti and Petworth pictures feature the same grotto carved into the rocks, and the same figure group of the man leading one goat, and a woman milking another. Cappelletti writes that the present work is likely to be the later of the three variants but they all date to the same period, around or before 1618 when the Pitti painting arrived with the Villa Medici at Careggi.

1. Cappelletti 2005, p. 287, cat. no. 130, reproduced p. 286.
2. Cappelletti 2005, p. 289, cat. no. 136, reproduced.