The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne

The present lot is sold with letters dated August 5, 1937 from Professor Dr. Waldmann, Director, Kunsthalle, Bremen and March 28, 1939 from Dr. Ernst Buchner, Director of the Alte Pinakothek, Munich both stating that the present painting is by Sir Anthony van Dyck. In a letter dated September 27, 1977 from Professor Michael Jaff he suggests that the present painting is 'essentially autograph', although possibly a second version of the painting on copper formerly in the Wedells collection and subsequently sold by Morris I. Kaplan at Sotheby's, London on June 12, 1968 for 21,000, and whose current whereabouts is unknown (Larsen, op. cit., p. 421, no. A26, illustrated). Larsen believes that the present painting is fully autograph and the prime version by van Dyck, datable to circa 1616-18. He concurs with Dr. Buchner that the present lot is the only original version of the composition.