Master Drawing
of First-degree Provenance
Dutch School – Landscape with the Three Peasants Cart-loading. On the field in front, loading shocks of sheaves onto a two-wheeled one-horse cart. The low wood enclosing the field declining on the far right and opening the vista at the plain with broad river with sailboat and a village on the far bank. Richly shaded brush in grey wash over traces of black chalk. C. 1700. 217 x 354 mm. – Minimal foxing.
Provenance
Dr. Carl Robert Rudolf , London
his sale Amsterdam 1977
On verso his collector stamp Cock on Turtle,
Lugt II, 2811 b
Finely executed work of painterly impression ,
the quality of which guarantees for the hand of its master .
Not least, however, also for its provenance :
“ Rudolf was one of the last of the real collectors of Old Master Drawings, in Britain perhaps the last. Certainly he will take his place alongside those other great British collectors, Lely, Lankrink, the Richardsons, Hudson, Reynolds, Lawrence, Esdaile, Skippe, Witt, and the rest … As long as he stuck to the Old Masters,
he had a remarkable eye for quality
… He was interested in the subject of the drawing, in the way the artist had visualised that subject, and in technique, for which he had a critical eye ” (Terence Mullaly).
And
“ Rudolf amassed one of the largest and most representative collections of old master Dutch and Flemish drawings of this century … ” (George Keyes).
Probably being able some day to attach a name to present drawing in such a way then, too, foremost
promising a confirmation of the own eye .
Offer no. 15,486 / price on application
“ Received the (original Ridinger printing-)plate yesterday. Much Thanks from a satiesfied customer. You are a True Gentleman … All the Best! L… F. ”
(Mr. L. A. F., November 5, 2003)