Lot 528: Attributed to Jan Wildens (Antwerp 1584/6-1653)

Attributed to Jan Wildens (Antwerp 1584/6-1653)
Orpheus charming the animals
signed with monogram and dated 'JW 1617' (lower left)
pen and brown ink, brown ink framing lines on paper
173 x 284 mm.
offered together with a ceiling design, attributed to Godfried Maes (Antwerp 1649-1700) (2)

Nijmegen, 1965, no. 6.
Leeuwarden, 1966, no. 60.
Bonn/Saarbrücken/Bochum, 1968/9, no. 159.
Bremen/Braunschweig/Stuttgart, 1979/80, no. 162.

W. Adler, Jan Wildens, Der Landschaftsmitsarbeiter des Rubens, Fridingen, 1980, no. Z17, ill. 187.

with H. Marcus, Amsterdam, 1956.

THE PROPERTY OF THE LATE HANS VAN LEEUWEN (LOTS 528-575)

'Well it hurts, how could it be otherwise? I see these drawings as my children. Each has its' own story and is a part of my life!'

This is how collector Hans van Leeuwen, quite eloquently, stated his feelings in 1992 when sections of his collection were put up for sale in our rooms. Since 1950, he had spent many years building his collection of which the 17th and 18th century drawings were to be hammered off in 1992 and the 19th century drawings in 1999.

The decision to sell was, as with most passionate collectors, not an easy one. Over and over he questioned himself if it was really necessary to let his 'children' go, and if so, what would be the most suitable way to do so? Eventually, he came to terms with going to auction with the thought that the drawings would get a chance to bring new music into the life of other collectors.

The 'music' reference was typical for Hans van Leeuwen, illustrating that his passion for flat art was an extension of his love for music. As a manager first for the Concertgebouw orchestra, then for the Utrecht's Symphony orchestra, he would compare sharing highlights from his rich art collection at exhibitions in Amsterdam (Rijksmuseum), Bremen, Rheydt, Hamburg and Hannover to giving concerts. Both would give birth to fresh colours and new rhythms.

After Hans van Leeuwen passed away this summer, Christie's Amsterdam was once more instructed - and honoured - to offer for sale drawings from his exquisite collection. Additionally, the public has a chance to bid on pictures, furniture and part of his extended library. For those who were part of his circle of friends and colleagues, and they were many, these objects will carry dear memories of the sometimes festive, sometimes intimate but always pleasant evenings in Hans house in Amerongen, where he used to recite stories about the arts, music and his rich life.

Marina Aarts

Laren, 1963; Laren, Singer Museum, Nederlandse Tekeningen. Collectie Hans van Leeuwen, 26 October-8 December 1963.
Nijmegen, 1965; Nijmegen, Waags Museum, Tekeningen uit de collectie Hans van Leeuwen, 12 November-13 December 1965.
Leeuwarden, 1966; Leeuwarden, Museum Princessehof, Tentoonstelling oude tekeningen uit drie eeuwen. Collectie Hans van Leeuwen, 5 February-8 March 1966.
Bonn/Saarbrücken/Bochum, 1968/9; Bonn, Rheinisches Landesmuseum, Niederländische Zeichnungen des 17.- 19. Jahrhunderts aus der Sammlung Hans van Leeuwen, Utrecht, 27 September-10 November 1968; Saarbrücken, Saarländisches Museum, 4 July-2 August 1968; Bochum, Städtische Kunstgalerie, 29 November 1968-5 January 1969.
Rheydt, 1971; Rheydt, Städtisches Museum Schloss Rheydt, Niederländische Zeichnungen des 17.- 19. Jahrhunderts aus der Sammlung Hans van Leeuwen, Utrecht, 2 September-17 October 1971.
Utrecht, 1978; Utrecht, Centraal Museum,Nederlandse tekeningen uit drie eeuwen, 29 April-25 June 1978.
Bremen/Braunschweig/Stuttgart, 1979/80; Bremen, Kunsthalle, Meisterzeignungen aus drei Jahrhunderten, Niederländische Handzeichnungen des 17. bis 19. Jahrhunderts aus der Sammlung Hans van Leeuwen, 14 October-2 December 1979; Braunschweig, Städtisches Museum, 10 January-10 February 1980; Stuttgart, Galerie der Stadt Stuttgart, 23 October- 6 December 1980.
Fribourg/Passau/Trier/Aachen/Nuremberg, 1982/4; Fribourg, Musée d' Art et d' Histoire, Niederländische Meisterzeignungen des 17. bis 19. Jahrhunderts aus der Sammlung Hans van Leeuwen, 2 April-30 May 1982; Passau, Oberhausmuseum, 20 June-18 July 1982; Trier, Städtisches Museum, 3 September-3 October 1982; Aachen, Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, 16 January-13 March 1983; Nuremberg, Dürerhaus, 14 April-28 May 1984.