Adam Frans Van Der Meulen

Description: The landscape composition of this piece is comparable to a large-format work (2.25 x 1.35cm) depicting men returning from a battle which van der Meulen painted to hang in the Château de Marly and is now housed in the Louvre. The piece was based on a landscape sketch by van der Meulen and an engraving by Boudewijn. However, they show considerable discrepancies in the scenery. Louis XIV was not present at the taking of the Château de Joux. Instead, the battle was fought by Jacques-Henri de Durfort, the Duc de Duras, who is thought to be identifiable with the man on horseback in the blue and red coat in the front left. Dimensions: 90 x 118 cm Artist or Maker: Adam Frans van der Meulen Medium: Oil on canvas (relined) Provenance: Private ownership, Belgium.

Adam Frans van der Meulen* (Flemish, 1632-1690) Two Horsemen Riding Past a Wood, unsigned, black and red chalk with some ink line on laid paper on the Skippe volume mount, 10 x 8-3/8 in. (drawing) 14-5/8 x 11-7/8 in. (mount); gilt wood frame, 17-7/8 x 15-1/2 in. Provenance: John Skippe; Edward Holland Martin, Esq,; The Skippe Collection of Old Master Drawings, London, Christie's, November 20-21, 1958, lot 295; Property from the Collection of the U. S. Ambassador to Ethiopia and Chile, Edward M. Korry

Black chalk heightened with white chalk on grey paper, within red chalk framing lines; bears old attribution, lower left: van der Meulen and verso: P.P. Rubens. 370 by 290 mm Provenance Sale, Paris, Picard, 20 October 1994, lot 147 (as Adrian Frans van der Meulen); sale, London, Sotheby's, 8 July 1998, lot 185 (as Attributed to Adam Frans van der Meulen) Catalogue Note Van der Meulen accompanied several of the campaigns of King Louis XIV in the Low Countries between 1667 and 1673, recording daily military life as well as major seiges and battles. The greatest record of this is the famous tapestry series, L'Histoire du Roi, designed by van der Meulen and Charles le Brun, from which the present work can be securely connected to the tapestry depicting La Prise de Lille (fig. 1). The two figures on horseback are King Louis XIV, and Vicomte de Turenne, both of whom correspond closely to their respective figures in the tapestry. The close artistic collaboration between van der Meulen and le Brun is further illustrated by the survival of a drawing1 housed in the Musée National du Château de Versailles, executed by le Brun and thought to have been retouched by van der Meulen, which acts as a preliminary composition study for La Prise de Lille. 1. Versailles, Musée National du Château de Versailles, Inv. no. 27636 Laid down on paper which has in turn been hinged mounted to a modern mount. There is an old hanging crease running across the centre of the sheet and some scattered foxing and discolouration to the left half of the sheet. The black chalk medium remains predominantly freh throughout this impressive sheet. Sold in a modern wood frame. "In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Adam Frans van der Meulen

(Collaboration with Workshop, Belgian, 1632-1690) Louis XIV at a Seige, possibly of Tournai in 1667 or another fortification, unsigned, oil on canvas, 37-1/2 x 50-1/4 in.; gilt wood and composition frame, lined, retouch with most at bottom edge and sky affecting approximately 15% of surface, crackle, cupping some small points of cleavage; frame regilt Lot Notes: We thank Claire van den Donk, of the RKD-Netherlands Institute for Art History (The Hague), for confirming the attribution on the basis of photographs to Adam Frans van der Meulen with assistance from his workshop. Laurens Schoemaker, the RKD\‘s curator for topography, thought it may possibly be a fortification in Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.

Adam Frans van der Meulen (Brüssel 1632-1690 Paris) A cavalry fight, 1688

oil on canvas

; 51 × 62.5 cm

signed and dated lower right: (…) V. MEVLEN / 1688

Provenance Estate of Carl-Anton Goess-Saurau (1921–2015) and his wife Marie (1921–1996), née Mayr-Melnhof, Schloss Pfannberg