Lot 10
Attributed to Francois Clouet (Born before 1522-1572)
Lot 10 Details
Attributed to Francois Clouet (Born before 1522-1572), French
PORTRAIT OF A MIDDLE-AGED NOBLEMAN, HEAD-AND-SHOULDERS (TO THE RIGHT) WITH BLONDE HAIR, SHORT CUT WHISKERS, WEARING A BLACK BERET CAP WITH WHITE FEATHER AGAINST A DARK BROWN BACKGROUND, THE SITTER’S EYES LOOKING OUT TOWARDS THE VIEWER
Oil on panel. Accompanied by four letters of opinion (“Gutachten”) appraising the work written in German including documents by:
Dr. Ernst Wengenmayr Kunsthistoriker, dated at Munchen, November 30, 1961;
Professor Emerich Schaffran, dated at Vienna, June 7, 1961;
Adolf Bangel, dated at Frankfurt Am Main, September 25, 1961; and Dr. Heinrich Zimmermann, dated at Tutzing, August 16, 1961 attributing this work to Francois Clouet, Court painter of King Franz I, circa 1540
11.75 x 9.25 in — 29.8 x 23.5 cm
Estimate $10,000-$15,000
Additional Images
Provenance:
The House of Hohenzollern Collection, Germany;
Ex. Collection, Wilhelm Pfeiffer, Germany and Canada, probably acquired in the early 1960s;
By descent to his son, Germany and Canada;
By descent to his daughter, Private Collection, Heidelberg, Ontario
Note:
The scholarly opinions are consistent in regarding this painting, after careful consideration, as an excellent late characteristic work of high quality by, or attributed to, Francois Clouet, the son of Jean Clouet who became court painter to King Franz I and his successor after his father’s death. Professor Schaffran suggests that the sitter, although unknown, could be a member of the court. They all remark on the high quality and precision of the the portrait, the main characteristic of Francois Clouet’s works. It is suggested that the National Library may have drawings that relate to this portrait. The scholars conclude the image and style of the portrait is close to that of Clouet’s portrait of Francois duc d’Alencon they site as painted in 1571.