Poppy Harvey-Jones
Head of Sale
Lot 40
Attributed to Cornelis van Poelenburgh(Utrecht circa 1586-1667)The Annunciation
6 July 2016, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £2,412.50 inc. premium
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Attributed to Cornelis van Poelenburgh (Utrecht circa 1586-1667)
The Annunciation
oil on panel
47.5 x 39cm (18 11/16 x 15 3/8in).
oil on panel
47.5 x 39cm (18 11/16 x 15 3/8in).
Footnotes
A version of the present composition, on copper, 48 x 41 cm., is in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, while a further version by Poelenburgh, on canvas, 48.6 x 42.2 cm., was sold at Christie's London, 4 July 1997, lot 482 (for £20,000). The present work, however, displays a degree of independence in its design which suggests that it may be a preliminary sketch. This is supported by a pentiment which shows that the artist lowered the position of the Archangel Gabriel's arm. Besides the absence of flowers which appear in the more finished Vienna version (but most of which are absent in the Christie's version), the present composition differs from both of these in the following details: the substitution of the upper putto in the left hand group; the addition of the legs of a putto to the top right of the upper right hand group; in the position of the Archangel's lilies (which in the Vienna version are pointed forward); there are further differences in the treatment of the Archangel's sash; and in the treatment of the drapery on the Virgin's prie-dieux, which is red, rather than mauve. The Christie's version follows the aforementioned differences characteristic of the Vienna painting.
