Lot 720: Egbert van Heemskerck II (Haarlem c. 1676-1744 London)

Egbert van Heemskerck II (Haarlem c. 1676-1744 London) A village carnival with figures of the Commedia dell'Arte oil on canvas 29 7/8 x 36 ½ in. (75.8 x 93 cm.)

75.8 x 93 cm.

Private Collection, United Kingdom. Private Collection, Italy.

The present lot shares several elements with two works by Heemskerck's famous contemporary William Hogarth, A Rake’s Progress and Southwark Fair, both painted in 1732-3. Southwark Fair depicts of course a similar subject, showing the strolling company of players announcing their upcoming performance to the surrounding crowds. In the present picture they can be seen at the centre in the costumes of the Commedia dell’ Arte flanked by musicians. The present lot should therefore be dated to Heemskerck’s English period, by the end of his career.