Lot 58: FRANÇOIS VENANT 1591/92 - 1636

THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI

measurements note
109.8 by 142.4 cm.

oil on canvas

PROVENANCE

Collection J. van Dam, Leiden;
Collection Gevers, Noordwijk;
With D. Katz, Dieren.

LITERATURE

E. Plietzsch, Jahrbuch der Königlichen Preußischen Kunstsammlungen, Vol. 37 (1916), p. 105, nr. 8 (as by P. Bor);
V. Bloch,'Zur Malerei des Paulus Bor', Oud Holland, 45 (1928), p. 22 (as not by P. Bor);
J.W. von Moltke, Die Gemälde des Paulus Bor von Amersfoort, Westfalen, 55, 1977, p. 147 (as not by P. Bor).20248202-1

NOTE

François Venant, one of the youngest of the so-called Pre-Rembrandtists, was much inspired by the works of his brother-in-law Pieter Lastman (1583/4-1633). Only one monogrammed painting by him is known, which forms the basis for establishing his oeuvre. This is The Farewell of David and Jonathan in the Fondation Custodia, Paris. J.G. van Gelder was the first in 1937 to attribute some paintings to the artist, followed by J. Bruyn in 1997 (see J.G. van Gelder, 'François Venant, schilder' in: Oud Holland, 54, 1937, pp. 137-8 and J. Bruyn, 'François Venant, Enige aanvullingen' in: Oud Holland, 111, 1997, pp. 163-76 ).

Offered with an expertise, dated 27th of June 2002, of Dr. P. Huys Janssen, attributing the present work to François Venant, on the basis of a photograph.