About this lot

Description

Friedrich Brentel (German, 1580-1651)

Actaeon being transformed into a stag by Diana at a rocky pool at the edge of a wood, with an extensive river landscape and town with mountains beyond
signed indistinctly within the gold left margin 'Fr [.............]' (lower left) and dated 163 [?8] (lower right)
gouache with gum arabic on vellum, laid down
18.6 x 26.5cm

Provenance:
Presumed to have been acquired for the collection at Horseheath Hall, Cambridgeshire sometime before 1792,
Thereafter removed to Little Barford Manor and by descent in the Alington family to the late owner

Sold by order of the Executors of the Estate of the late Nigel Alington (1947-2018)

Friedrich Brentel was born circa 1580 in Lauingen, Bavaria. He later studied under his father Georg Brentel's direction initially as an engraver but went on to become one of the most important draughtsmen and artists in 17th century Strasbourg. Through his successful workshop and with his most famous pupil, Johann Wilhelm Baur (1607-1642) they established the city of Strasbourg as a leading centre for the painting of miniature small scale landscapes and other subjects principally in gouache. The present work with its rich palette of colours and brilliant handling of detail is exceptionally well-preserved, other than the artist's signature which seems to have been deliberately and largely obliterated - possibly to pass it off as by his more valuable pupil, Baur, or to confuse it with the work of the even more valuable artist, Jan (Velvet) Breughel the Elder.

Overall in very good condition. Bodycolour with gum arabic heightening on parchment or vellum. Laid down onto good quality wove paper. Some cracking of the pigment layer and very small amount of flaking which shows as white spots. Small areas of black and white lead pigment or graphite mainly on the female figures. Colours have been well preserved. Partially erased inscription bottom left corner. Damaged date bottom right corner. Paper backing discoloured around the edges. Five rust marks on the paper backing from nails holding the picture in its frame. Under raking light, little vertical soft wrinkle left of the centre of the top edge. Slight cockling at the edges.

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