拍品專文
The present lot depicts a rather unusual subject for the artist, who is mainly known as painter of village fires by night and barn interiors. Three other treatments of the subject are known: one in the collection Dr P. Stern, Frankfurt; the second with the heirs of A. Schloss, Paris, 1949 and the third in the Fondation Custodia, Paris (photographs in the R.K.D., The Hague).
As pointed out by Goldschmidt (op.cit., p. 60), the concept of the artist must have been to have an interior painted with a source of light coming from the opposite direction and not, as normally is the case in his barn interiors, from the sides. This pre-occupation with the effect of strong light must be seen as a 'Delft' pre-occupation (see O. Naumann, Frans van Mieris I, I, 1981, p. 53). It seems therefore likely that the present lot was painted by the artist circa 1650-1654 before he settled in Rotterdam. The interior depicted is possibly that of the artist's studio with the artist sitting by the window.
Sold with a photo certificate by Dr Walther Bernt, dated 29 July 1972
See colour illustration
As pointed out by Goldschmidt (op.cit., p. 60), the concept of the artist must have been to have an interior painted with a source of light coming from the opposite direction and not, as normally is the case in his barn interiors, from the sides. This pre-occupation with the effect of strong light must be seen as a 'Delft' pre-occupation (see O. Naumann, Frans van Mieris I, I, 1981, p. 53). It seems therefore likely that the present lot was painted by the artist circa 1650-1654 before he settled in Rotterdam. The interior depicted is possibly that of the artist's studio with the artist sitting by the window.
Sold with a photo certificate by Dr Walther Bernt, dated 29 July 1972
See colour illustration