Lot 79: The Expulsion from Paradise

Frederik Bouttats I (Antwerp 1590-1661)
The Expulsion from Paradise
oil on panel
53.4 x 103.1 cm.

Possibly P.P. Rhodes, Iffley, Oxford, 1958.
Armand Colle, Ghent, thence by descent to the present owner.

Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €5,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €5,001 and €400,000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €400,000. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.
Little is known about the life and career of this Flemish landscape painter. His work is often confused with those of Frederick II and III, who were in all likelyhood family. Also, there are strong similarities with depictions of Jacob Savery. These artists all painted animals and landscapes with biblical motifs, and their minute treatment of trees and flowers follows the tradition established by Jan Brueghel the Elder.

Many of the animals, such as the horse, goats, guinea pigs, cows and lions re-occur in a different placement in the picture Noah and the Ark, that was offered in these rooms on 7 May 1992, lot 134.