Lot 37: Isaak Soreau Frankfurt-am-Main 1604 - in or after 1645 , A still life with fruit in a basket, including bunches of grapes and lemons, cherries and oranges on the wooden table beneath oil on oak panel

stamped on the reverse with the Antwerp panel-maker's mark of Michael Vrient oil on oak panel

measurements note 58.5 by 83.5 cm.; 23 by 32 7/8 in.

G. Bott, Die Stillebenmaler Soreau, Binoit, Codino und Marrell in Hanau und Frankfurt 1600-1650, Hanau 2001, p. 189, no. WV.UIS.A, reproduced in reverse.

Comte Le Redon, France;
With Galerie de Jonkheere, Paris, 1993;
With Richard Green, London, 1999.

PROPERTY FROM A CORPORATE COLLECTION
Although almost nothing is known of his life, this striking still life is proof that Isaac Soreau travelled to Flanders, and more specifically to Antwerp. The panel bears the stamp of Michiel Vrient, a panel-maker in Antwerp whose panels can be dated to between 1605 and 1637. Soreau is recorded in Hanau until 1626 and he must therefore have been in Antwerp between 1626 and 1637, where he executed this work.υ1 Like so many of his still lifes, this painting bears the unmistakable influence of the Antwerp painter Jacob van Hulsdonck and it is widely considered that Soreau spent some time in his studio. Not being a member of the guild there, Soreau would not have been able to sell his paintings under his own name and, so close is his style to Hulsdonck's, it is likely that his paintings were sold in that city as the work of his master.

Soreau was probably still in Antwerp in 1638 as a work dated to that year is a partial copy of a painting by Hulsdonck from circa 1615.υ2 His only other dated work is from 1645υ3 but by this time Soreau must have been back in Frankfurt as the painting is quite different from his earlier work and instead is clearly influenced by the leading Frankfurt still-life painter, Georg Flegel. After this date there is no further sign of life.

Soreau was born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, and was the son, and probably the pupil, of Daniel Soreau, a painter, architect and wool merchant who had emigrated from Tournai to Frankfurt by 1586. After Daniel's death in 1619 his studio was placed in the hands of Sebastien Stosskopf and it is probable that Isaak, together with his twin brother Peter (1604-before 1672), trained under him before Isaak moved to Antwerp after 1626.


1 Two other panels bear Antwerp marks: Still life with grapes and strawberries sold London, Christie's, 16 December 1998, lot 8, which bears the mark of Michiel Claessens (1590-1637), and his recently re-attributed Still life of flowers sold New York, Sotheby's, 10 January 1991, lot 99 (as Jacob van Hulsdonck), which is branded with the arms of the city of Antwerp.
2 Sold New York, Sotheby's, 11 January 1996, lot 73.
3 See G. Bott, under Literature, p. 188, no. WV.IS.50, reproduced.