Lot 113: ATTRIBUTED TO EMANUEL DE CRITZ

THE PROPERTY OF A LADY LONDON 1608 - 1665 PORTRAIT OF A LADY AND A GENTLEMAN inscribed upper left: ÆTA.44. and upper right: ÆTA.30. and further inscribed on the stretcher, verso: Mo D.../ de Sn...I Zeriere / vandyke oil on canvas 102 by 108.5 cm.; 40 1/8 by 42 3/4 in.

Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 16 December 1977, lot 86 (as J. De Critz); With Gavin Graham Gallery, London, by April 1983, where acquired by the present owner.

Although catalogued as J. De Critz in 1977, this intriguing double portrait is closer in style to John’s son, Emanuel de Critz. Stylistic comparisons can be drawn to a group of portraits in the Ashmolean Museum attributed to both Emanuel and Thomas de Critz, particularly to the Portrait of John Tradescant the younger and Hester, his second wife, dated 1656 (Inv. No. F663). Given the placement of the man's hands we can speculate that this portrait was commissioned to celebrate the impending birth of their child. His wife wears a fine (and expensive) early pocket watch.