ADRIAEN VAN DE VELDE | Milking Time

Victor Amédée of Savoy, prince de Carignan (1690–1741), Hôtel de Soissons, Paris (according to the Selle catalogue, below);
Marcellin-François-Zacharie de Selle (1704–59), Paris;
His sale, Paris, Remy, 19 February 1761, lot 25, for 2,362 francs to Thibault;
Etienne-François, 1er Duc de Choiseul (1719–85), Paris;
His sale, Paris, Boileau, 6 April 1772, lot 73, for 2,000 livres to Louis-François-Jacques Boileau;
Louis-François de Bourbon, Prince de Conti (1717–76), Paris;
His posthumous sale, Paris, Remy, 12 May 1777, lot 416, for 2450 livres to Lebrun;
Gabriel François Joseph, Chevalier de Verhulst, Brussels;
His posthumous sale, Brussels, de Neck, 16 August 1779, lot 165, for 900 florins to Fouquet;
M. le comte Lebœuf, Paris;
His sale, Paris, Lebrun, 8 April 1783, lot 54, for 2,610 francs to Lebœuf;
Pierre-Jean Proly (1752–94), Paris;
By whom sold, Paris, Paillet, 20 March 1787, lot 106, for 2,600 francs to Castelmore;
Louis-Constantin de Batz, comte de Castelmore (1747–1827), Paris;
His sale, Paris, Paillet, 20 December 1791, lot 69, for 2,400 francs to Paillet;
Allen Gilmore, Paris;
His sale, Paris, 1830 (according to Hofstede de Groot, see Literature);
Jean-Baptiste, comte d'Hane de Steenhuyse et de Leeuwerghem (1757–1826), Ghent;
His sale, Paris, Le Roy, 27 March 1860, lot 30, for 7,150 francs to Nieuwenhuys;
Christophe van Loo, Ghent (his red wax seal on the reverse);
His posthumous sale, Paris, Le Roy, 25 May 1881, lot 34, for 10,000 francs to Sedelmeyer (as signed and dated 1662);
Comte J. de Montebello, Paris (according to Hofstede de Groot, see Literature);
Martin Mayer Rikoff (b. 1838), Paris;
His sale, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, 4 December 1907, lot 24, for 3,700 francs to Kleinberger (as signed and dated 1662);
August de Ridder (1837–1911), Villa Schönberg, Kronberg, by 1910;
With F. Kleinberger, Paris, 1911.

J. Smith, Catalogue raisonné..., vol. V, London 1834, p. 174, cat. no. 9;
W. von Bode, Die Gemäldegalerie des Herrn A de Ridder in seiner Villa zu Schönberg bei Cronberg im Taunus, Berlin 1910, p. 40, reproduced;
F. Kleinberger, A descriptive and illustrated catalogue of 150 paintings by old masters of the Dutch, Flemish, German, Italian, Spanish and French schools, New York 1911, p. 94, cat. no. 77, reproduced (as signed and dated 1668);
C. Hofstede de Groot, A catalogue raisonné..., vol. IV, London 1912, p. 485, cat. no. 100;
N. MacLaren and C. Brown, The Dutch School 1600-1900. National Gallery, London 1991, vol. I, p. 442, under cat. no. 868.

The canvas is lined, the paint surface is relatively clean and the varnish slightly discoloured. The paint has thinned slightly in certain areas, most notably in the centre of the composition where the weave is starting to become faintly visible. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals two campaigns of retouching: one fluoresces lightly and is seen in the areas of thinning just mentioned, as well as in the barn centre right, and along the centre of the lower margin; the other fluoresces darkly and comprises of retouchings in the barn, the cow (centre), scattered in the tree on the left, and a spot in the cloud (upper centre). In overall good condition. Offered in a carved and gilt wood frame with some losses.
"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."

We are grateful to Bart Cornelis for endorsing the attribution to Adriaen Van de Velde following first-hand inspection of the painting. A copy of the present picture was in the collection of Paul Giersberg, Wesel, and was offered for sale in Cologne, 16 April 1907, lot 82.