(Flemish, circa 1605-1661) 

Two Farmers with Letter Writer, unsigned, 17th century, oil on panel, 5-3/4 x 4-1/2 in. (12.7 x 10.16 cm.); gilt wood frame, 9-1/2 x 8-1/2 x 2-1/2 in. 

Provenance: Collection Nardus, Paris, circa 1894-1920; F. Kleinberger Sale,  New York, November 18,1928, lot 8, as by Adriaen Brouwer (1603/05-1638); Art dealer D. Katz, Dieren, date unknown; Private collection A. Bronkhorst, The Hague, by 1936; With art dealer G. van der Brink International Art, Amsterdam, date unknown; The Collection of Nel and Gerrit Jape; by descent in family

Note: Brunk Auctions would like to thank General Director, prof. dr. Chris Stolwijk and  Ellis Dullaart MA, Curator Dutch and Flemish Old Master Painting, of the RKD, The Hague for their information concerning this painting. According to their research this painting "was shown at the Exhibition of Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, New York,1931.
A second variant of the composition is documented in our files, which was last reported in a private Belgian collection and previously attributed to Brouwer as well (https://rkd.nl/imageslite/364142). In the 2006 catalogue raisonné on Joos van Craesbeeck (1605/06-1660/61), upon first hand inspection, the author discusses the variant as a possible early work by the artist. She relates it to a monogrammed painting in the Museo del Prado, which has a similar composition with half-length figures and caricaturized facial types (https://www.museodelprado.es/coleccion/obra-de-arte/el-
terceto-burlesco/e4c514c3-742b-4e63-b621-d381f9811fe0?searchid=3ec20149-5d9f-18ef-341e-480acd77d045), and to a painting – present whereabouts unknown – which features similar motifs such as the sheet with tobacco and a similarly rendered glass of beer (https://rkd.nl/imageslite/55410).

On the basis of the old photographs of your painting in our files, the author tentatively listed your
painting as a possible early work by Van Craesbeeck as well (K. de Clippel, Joos van Craesbeeck. Een
Brabants genreschilder, 2006, vol. 1, p. 294-295, under no. C4; vol. 2, ill. 127a). And after having
studied the submitted photographs, we tend to agree with this and think your painting was executed
by the same hand as its rectangular variant indeed. Also, we observe the same manner of execution
in the hands and faces as in the abovementioned Prado painting. On the basis of these observations,
we think describing your painting as attributed to Joos van Craesbeeck, would be most appropriate."

panel shaved and cradled, cupping, cleavage, small points of flaking, yellowed varnish; frame with abrasions