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Lot Essay
Thomas, Lord Coningsby, formed a substantial collection of pictures, including the celebrated series of views of Hampton Court now in the Mellon Collection. These complemented his Gothic remodelling of the house and remained there until 1973.
A version by Snyders showing only the central part of the composition (98.5 x 95 cm.) is in the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Aachen (H. Robels, Frans Snyders, 1989, pp. 309-10, no. 202, illustrated). The landscape in the present picture is by another hand, close to Jan Wildens.
The subject is taken from the Fable of Phædrus, III, 12: 'A young cockerel was looking for food in the manure when he found a pearl there. "What a thing you are to be lying in such an unworthy place!" he exclaimed. "If only someone who longed to possess something of such value had found you, you would long since have been restored to your original splendour. But instead it is I who have found you, when I would have much preferred to find some food: this is not going to do you or me any good at all." This is a story I tell for those who do not know how to appreciate me [i.e. Precious things are for those that can appreciate them]'.
A version by Snyders showing only the central part of the composition (98.5 x 95 cm.) is in the Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum, Aachen (H. Robels, Frans Snyders, 1989, pp. 309-10, no. 202, illustrated). The landscape in the present picture is by another hand, close to Jan Wildens.
The subject is taken from the Fable of Phædrus, III, 12: 'A young cockerel was looking for food in the manure when he found a pearl there. "What a thing you are to be lying in such an unworthy place!" he exclaimed. "If only someone who longed to possess something of such value had found you, you would long since have been restored to your original splendour. But instead it is I who have found you, when I would have much preferred to find some food: this is not going to do you or me any good at all." This is a story I tell for those who do not know how to appreciate me [i.e. Precious things are for those that can appreciate them]'.