GILLIS MOSTAERTHULST CIRCA 1528 - 1598 ANTWERPANDJACOB GRIMMERANTWERP 1525/6 - 1589/60 | Landscape with archers gathering at the top of a hill for an archery competition

Baron L. de Béthune, Aelst;
His posthumous sale, Ghent, Tavernier, 17 March 1941, lot 107, for 34,500 Belgian Francs;
With Kurt Müllenmeister, Solingen, 1977–83;
Acquired by the late husband of the present owner by 1991.

Cologne, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum, Von Breughel bis Rubens, 4 September – 22 November 1992, no. 456;
Berlin, Gemäldegalerie Preussische Kulturbesitz, on loan.

E. Mai, 'Neuzugänge am Wallraf-Richartz-Museum', in Museen der Stadt Köln, no. 6, 1984, pp. 77–81;
E. Mai, 'Köln, Wallraf-Richartz-Museum', in Wallraf-Richartz-Jahrbuch, no. 45, 1984, pp. 362–65, reproduced fig. 1;
R. de Bertier de Sauvigny, Jacob et Abel Grimmer, Brussels 1991, p. 61, cat. no. XVI, reproduced p. 65, fig. 7;
K. Michiels, Een bijdrage tot de studie van de schilderijen van Gillis Mostaert (1528–1598), doctoral diss., Brussels 1997–98, cat. no. 28;
K. Michiels, in E. Mai (ed.), Gillis Mostaert (1528–1598). Ein Antwerpener Maler zur Zeit der Bruegel-Dynastie, Wolfratshausen 2005, pp. 57–58 and 143, cat. no. 28, reproduced p. 59, fig. 10.

The canvas has a firm relining and the painting has been cleaned and restored. There is evidence of wear in the sky and in the darker tones of the foreground. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals scattered spot retouchings throughout, predominantly in the sky, with more concentrated areas in three small areas in the sky to the right of the pole and in the upper right corner, as well as in the bank lower left, measuring 3 by 5 cm. The painting appears bright and in overall good condition, and does not require any further intervention.
"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."

The subject of this picture has proved elusive. The structure of the landscape reminds one strongly of a Calvary, and indeed it is possible that it was started with this intention, but as realised the subject seems entirely secular. Possibly the soldiery are ascending the hill with their bows for an archery contest, perhaps to shoot at a popinjay affixed to the pole at its summit.

Following Reine de Bertier de Sauvigny, who first published this picture, Kristof Michiels has suggested that Mostaert painted a number of collaborative works with Jacob Grimmer, in which the latter artist supplied the landscape.¹ Most of these, when signed, are only signed by Mostaert, either in full or in monogram, but a landscape in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, is signed by both artists, and precisely dated (by Grimmer) 16 August 1583.² Furthermore, several 17th-century inventories, including that of Arnold Lunden in 1643–44, record works, usually merely as landscapes, painted by both artists.³ Michiels suggests that in this picture the structure of the landscape and the form of the trees speak for Grimmer's authorship.⁴  

This and the Mostaert in the Evening sale were consecutive lots in the Baron de Béthune sale. 1 Michiels 2005, p. 55.
2 Inv. no. 5652; see Bertier de Sauvigny 1991, p. 70, cat. no. XXVII, reproduced p. 71, fig. 16.
3 Michiels 2005, p. 55, note 69.
4 Michiels 2005, pp. 57–58.