Lot 145: Danaë

Hieronymus van der Mij (Leiden 1687-1761) Danaë with signature and dated 'W. Mieris / fec. Ao 1742.' (lower right) oil on panel 57.1 x 44.3 cm.

57.1 x 44.3 cm.

C. Wansink, 'Hieronymus van der Mij als historie- en genreschilder', Oud Holland, XCIX, 1985, p. 213, no. 3.

Hendrik Twent; 't Heeren Logement, Leiden, 11 August 1789, lot 39. with Arthur de Heuvel, Brussels. C.S. Pothouiezc, 1985 (according to an old label on reverse). Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 22 May 1990, lot 54, as Willem van Mieris (Dfl 34,500).

Many of Van der Mij's pictures have in the past been attributed to his teacher, Willem van Mieris, often with the latter's signature. Specific aspects of this composition, for example the bas-relief sculpture in the background, match a description from a sale catalogue of 1789, where the picture was correctly attributed to van der Mij.