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    Sale 6682

    PICTURES AND WATERCOLOURS FROM LONGLEAT

    London

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    14 June 2002

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    • The Pseudo Simons (active in A
    Lot 625

    The Pseudo Simons (active in Antwerp late 17th Century)

    Grapes on the vine, plums, apples, pears and other fruit and flowers all in a wicker basket, a red squirrel eating acorns, a partially peeled lemon on a silver dish with cherries, oranges and figs on a stone table ledge; and Grapes on the vine, plums and other fruit in a silver tazza, strawberries in a blue and white porcelain bowl, a lobster, shrimps, oysters, lemons, a pomegranate and vegetables on a stone ledge

    Price realised

    GBP 47,800

    Estimate

    GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000

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    The Pseudo Simons (active in Antwerp late 17th Century)
    Grapes on the vine, plums, apples, pears and other fruit and flowers all in a wicker basket, a red squirrel eating acorns, a partially peeled lemon on a silver dish with cherries, oranges and figs on a stone table ledge; and Grapes on the vine, plums and other fruit in a silver tazza, strawberries in a blue and white porcelain bowl, a lobster, shrimps, oysters, lemons, a pomegranate and vegetables on a stone ledge
    oil on canvas
    18 x 46¾ in. (45.7 x 118.7 cm.)
    a pair (2)

    Provenance

    Probably painted for Thomas Thynne, 1st Viscount Weymouth (died 1714), for the Best Gallery at Longleat, and by descent.
    Thomas Thynne, 2nd Viscount Weymouth (1710-1751), inventory of 26 February 1718 (Thynne Papers, LXXVII, f: 135V), as in the Best Gallery: '22 Pannel pictures'; inventory of 15 September 1740, as in the Best Gallery: '22 Pannel Pictures (i.e. pictures set into panelling) most of 'em still Life and Sea Forts'
    Thomas Thynne, 1st Marquess of Bath, K.G. (1734-1796), 'Catalogue of Pictures in Longleat House 1792' (f. 8) as in the Picture Gallery: '22 Pannel pictures - Sea Views etc. on South and West Sides Painted in Italy'.
    John Alexander Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath (1831-1896), recorded in hanging plans of 1879 and 1885, and the inventory of 1 August 1896, 'Oil paintings in gilt frames viz. - Tables with vases, books, crown and sceptre - School of De Heem 50"x19"', in the Four Room Passage, and 'An Interior with table, inkstand, books &c - School of De Heem 50"x18"' in the East Gallery.
    Henry Frederick Thynne, 6th Marquess of Bath (1905-1993), by whom transferred to the Ante Library.

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    Lot Essay

    This anonymous artist was so named by Mr. Fred Meijer of the RKD on the basis of a number of pictures by the same hand that have in the past been erroneously attributed to Michiel Simons (active 1648-1673). The style is in fact closer to that of his contemporary Jan-Pauwel Gillemans II (1651-c. 1708), with whose work the artist must have been vaguely familiar. The Pseudo Simons referred repeatedly to a set of stock motifs so it unsurprising to note that the squirrel, lobster, tazza, oysters, pomegranate and the basket are elements that all feature in other works by him (see for example, the picture sold, Sotheby's, London, 16 April 1997, lot 12, [£22,900]).

    As Mr. Meijer accepts, the number of pictures by the artist that have surfaced in England indicate that he was probably active here at some point, a notion that is further supported by the emergence and history of the present pair.

    For a discussion of the history of these pitures at Longleat see footnote to the preceding lot.

    Other information

    Special Notice

    No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.


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