埃薩亞斯·凡·德·維爾德

Anonymous sale, The Hague, R.W.P De Vries, 9 June 1936, lot 238;
Droste collection, Haarlem, by 1965;
With Gallery Hoogsteder, The Hague, 1975-1983;
From whom purchased by Bernard Palitz. 

G.S. Keyes, Esaias van den Velde 1587-1630, Doornspijk 1984, p. 153, cat. no. 124, reproduced, plate 113. 

The painting overall is in good condition, the varnish in the sky is a little dirty but it is otherwise ready to hang. The supporting panel is flat, made up of two boards. These have shifted slightly at the center on the reverse side but the edges are aligned and this is not visible through the canvas on the face. The canvas appears to be in good condition with only a very minor nick visible at the center of the upper edge. The paint surface has a craquelure pattern through the sky but this is not distracting and the image overall remains clear and the details are sharp. Inspection under UV reveals very little retouching, there is minor feathering in the sky at upper left and a small retouched loss beside the signature and date lower right corner of approximately 1/4 in. Offered in a simple black and gilt carved 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.

Dated 1624, this lively landscape by Esaias van den Velde was painted following the artist's move to the Hague from the city of Haarlem in 1618. The free handling and spirited brushwork are akin to the large body of drawings produced by Van den Velde (over 200 are known) which record the artist's surroundings with a matter-of-factness that put him on par with the great landscape specialists of the first half of the seventeenth century.