Moore Allen & Innocent
Lot 208
AFTER GABRIEL METSU (1629-1667)"The Poultry Seller", an old man seated with clay pipe, a young woman selling chicken to an older woman, a spaniel looking on, oil on panel, bears signature and date "1662" to notice upon wall, and a companion "Man Selling Poultry", a study of the same man seated selling a chicken to a young woman", oil on panel, unsigned, bears old label verso "Rudolf Ackermann Dealer in Works of Art 203 Regent Street Corner of Conduit Street London W and 30 New Bond Street", both bear old labels verso, a pair, 48 cm x 39.5 cm (ONE ILLUSTRATED) CONDITION REPORTS Under ultraviolet light a few slightly darker areas to to the pictures, particularly to the picture with the gentleman holding a cockerel, where there appear to be some darker areas to the rooves of the buildings, to the building to the left of the picture and some darker areas near lower section of the picture and to the left of the standing lady's left arm and above her head. Both pictures have a large vertical crack to the centre which is also visible to the front of the pictures and have had glued block repairs to the reverse. The boards are also separating slightly at the joins which is visible from the front where is has cracked the paint in these area and there is some paint loss in these areas. In natural light both pictures have general wear and scuffs. Cracquelure to the paint, some scrapes and deposits around the edges where they may previously have been framed. Some dulling to the surface/varnish, particularly to the lower half of the picture depicting the lady holding a plucked chicken. Some small chips to edges of boards.
