Jan Miense Molenaer (Dutch, 1610-1668) Merry company around a table playing cards, circa 1636 Oil on panel 8 x 9-3/4 inches (20.3 x 24.8 cm) Signed lower right: Molenaer PROVENANCE: Hendrik Cornelis van den Honert (1854-1916), Baarn, The Netherlands; Magdalena Christiana van den Honert, Hilversum, The Netherlands, 1946; Mr. and Mrs. G. H. van Rahusen, Naarden, The Netherlands, by 1979; Thence by descent; Private collection, The Netherlands and California; Private collection, California. LITERATURE: F.F. Hofrichter, Judith Leyster: A Woman Painter in Holland's Golden Age, catalogue raisonné, Doornspijk, The Netherlands, 1989, no. 25 (as Judith Leyster, circa 1633, "location unknown"). HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

Hendrik Cornelis van den Honert (1854-1916), Baarn, The Netherlands; Magdalena Christiana van den Honert, Hilversum, The Netherlands, 1946; Mr. and Mrs. G. H. van Rahusen, Naarden, The Netherlands, by 1979; Mrs. G. H. van Rahusen, Naarden; Thence by descent in the family; Private collection, The Netherlands and California; Private collection, California.

On slightly beveled panel support. Panel displays slight convex bowing, most apparent at left and right edges. Small loss to panel in upper right corner, not easily visible when framed. A short vertical crack, approximately 1/4-inch in length, at center of upper edge. Finely patterned craquelure throughout. Extremely slight yellowing to the varnish layer. A faint diagonal hairline scratch in lower left quadrant visible upon close inspection. Minor surface dust. Not examined out of frame. Under UV: varnish fluoresces green unevenly. Brushy retouching in the background, most notably near center of right edge and behind the hat of the leftmost figure. Some additional, more finely applied dots and dashes of retouching to the clothing of each figure and to the faces of the two rightmost figures, with more sparing retouching applied to the shaded area near the ear of the leftmost figure. Framed Dimensions 20 X 21.5 X 3.5 Inches