Lot 8: Joachim Anthonisz. Wtewael (Utrecht 1566-1638)

Joachim Anthonisz. Wtewael (Utrecht 1566-1638)
Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan
signed and dated 'Jo.Wte.wael.fecit 1610' (lower left, on the step)
oil on copper, the reverse stamped with an as yet unidentified mark bearing the initials 'WW'
7¼ x 5 3/8 in. (18.2 x 13.5 cm.)

(Probably) Familiearchief van der lely van Oudewater 163, Inventaris van den boedel van Mr Jacob van der Lely 1795-1798, unpublished MS, p. 44, 'Een Do verbeeldende Mars en Venus door De Goden betrapt op koper door J. Uytewal hoog 7 breed 5 duimen.'
A.W. Lowenthal, Joachim Wtewael and Dutch Mannerism (forthcoming).

Jacob van der Lely, Councilman and Mayor of Delft; his sale, Jan de Groot, Delft, 5 April 1796, lot 28, as 'Mars en Venus door de Goden betrapt, zynde een Ordonnantie vol gewoel, extra konstig op koper geschilderd door J.
Uytewaal, hoog 7 breed 5 duim' [Mars and Venus caught by the Gods, being a composition full of turmoil, very artfully painted on copper by J. Uytewaal (13 florins to Van der Poth).
Gerrit van der Pot van Groeneveld (1732-1807); (+), his sale, Rijp, Rotterdam, 6 June 1808, lot 6, as 'Hoog 6 7/8, en breed 5 1/8 duim. Koper. Mars en Venus, op een prachtig Rustbed, in eene wellustige houding liggende. Ter zijde ziet men Vulkaan in de houding, om het gesmede net over hen heen te werpen. In het bovenste gedeelte van dit tafereel vertoont zich de gansche Olympus hen verrasschende. Op den voorgrond ligt Amor op eene knie zijne
Pijlen ter verdediging naar boven schietende. Ter zijde van denzelven de Wapenrusting van Mars en 't Toilet van Venus. Zeer allegorisch voorgesteld, schoon geteekend, gekleurd en alleruitvoerigst behandeld' [Mars and Venus,
on a beautiful bed, lying in a lustful pose. On the side, one sees Vulcan in a pose about to throw the net he cast in metal over them. In the upper part of this scene all of Olympus is shown surprising them. In the foreground, Cupid,
resting on one knee, is firing his arrow upwards to defend them. On the side, Mars's armour and Venus's toilet. Very allegorically painted, well-drawn, coloured and meticulously executed] (57 florins to Vervier).
Paul-Jean Pletinckx, Brussels; his sale, Mastraeten, Brussels, 18 October 1826, lot 32, 'Mars et Venus surpris par les dieux; charmant tableau; par Joachim Untewael, 1610' (105 florins to Herris).
Sir Charles Bagot (1781-1843); his sale, Christie's, London, 18 June 1836, lot 4, 'Utewaal, 1610, Mars and Venus -- on copper' (5 gns. to the following),
with C. J. Nieuwenhuys, Paris.
Maurice Abram de Zincourt (1836-1908), Nancy, and by descent to the present owners.

Property of a French Noble Family

Joachim Anthonisz. Wtewael (Utrecht 1566-1638)
Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan
signed and dated 'Jo.Wte.wael.fecit 1610' (lower left, on the step)
oil on copper, the reverse stamped with an as yet unidentified mark bearing the initials 'WW'
7¼ x 5 3/8 in. (18.2 x 13.5 cm.)