Lot 72A
Europe, Dutch Old Masters, Circle of Salomon Koninck (1609-1656), oil on canvas entitled "Merchants Counting Money", ca. early 17th c. A large and extremely fine Old Masters painting attributed to the circle of Salomon Koninck, a 17th century Dutch Baroque era artist originally from Antwerp who specialized in painting genre scenes, history paintings, and portraits of scholars/philosophers. Moving in the circles of Rembrandt and the academy of Hendrick van Uylenburgh, Koninck created paintings like this example that demonstrate the Netherlands' unprecedented wealthy economy during the 17th century, when it prospered from extensive trading opportunities available due to global exploration - the Caribbean, the East Indies, North America, Brazil, and even South Africa. During this period, the Dutch East India Company was the largest commercial enterprise throughout the world. Here we see two richly dressed businessmen keeping track of their profits. Mounted in an impressive gold leaf frame. Size: 31.5" L x 43.25" W (80 cm x 109.9 cm)
The artist's detailed, nearly photographic rendering of the figures, objects, and setting suggests a loyalty to true observation and realism. The mastery of trompe l'oeil in this painting "tricks the eye" into perceiving the painted objects rendered in two dimensions as actual three-dimensional articles - the document on the right, for example, seems to roll over the edge of the table/desk into the viewers' space . Dutch artists were experts at optical illusion via perspectival illusionism in their works, creating such lifelike imitations. In addition, this composition provides a wonderful window onto Dutch commercial practices, demonstrating the importance of Netherlandish financial transactions during this time in history when the pursuit of wealth oftentimes distracted the Dutch from religious pursuits. Notice how the gentlemen dutifully examine and measure their fortune; note the presence of scales to weigh the gold and paperwork/books/ledgers that document their transactions.
Works from Salomon Koninck's impressive oeuvre reside in museum collections and public galleries throughout the world including the Louvre, the National Gallery of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Prado Museum, the Hermitage Museum, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery, The Hague, the Rijksmuseum, the Dunbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Provenance: Acquired at Christie's London on July 13, 2001; Sale 9146, Lot 92
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#124067
- Condition: Painting is in overall excellent condition. Although the coloring is dark in areas, the hues are still vibrant and the details are exquisite. Frame has numerous nicks and scratches on all four sides, but is fully intact. There is a small wooden border on the immediate outside of the painting just inside the frame. The top and left two pieces of wood have been dislodged but an easy repair would render it in its original framed manner.
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