Lot Essay
THE ORIGINAL, SIGNED, ON CANVAS, 116.5 X 148.3 CM, HAS BEEN IN THE STAATLICHE MUSEEN GEMäLDEGALERIE BERLIN, INV. NO956, SINCE 1742 (P. VAN DER PLOEG & C. VERMEEREN, VORSTELIJK VERZAMELD, EXH. CAT., 1997/8, P.216, NO29A, WITH ILL.). IT WAS PAINTED CIRCA 1635 FOR PRINCE FREDERIK HENDRIK AND AMALIA VAN SOLMS AND WAS MEANT TO DECORATE THE APPARTMENT OF AMALIA AT HONSELAARSDIJK, TOGETHER WITH FOUR OTHER PICTURES. THE SUBJECT IS TAKEN FROM THE PASTORAL PLAY IL PASTOR FIDO, WRITTEN BY BATTISTA GUARINI IN 1581/2. IT RELATES OF THE STORY OF THE NYMPH AMARYLLIS AND THE SHEPHERD MIRTILLO. THE FOUR OTHER CANVASES OF THE SERIES WERE PAINTED BY DIRCK VAN DER LISSE, ABRAHAM BLOEMAERT AND HERMAN SAFTLEVEN.