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June 5, 2017

henry kennedy – 2017-06-05 18:09:39

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The foundations for the tobacco business were laid by the British. By 1550, every English town had its own clay pipe manufacturer. Tobacco was very expensive so in the beginning the pipes were small… 4-6 inches, and the earlier the pipe, the smaller the bowl. Early pipes possessed big bottoms- not for stability or resting on a table, but because they were easier to make. As the decades wore on, the refinements included longer stems containing smaller holes. By the 18th century fashionable pipe stems were 11.5 to 16 inches long; and curved! Pipes with broken stems continued to be smoked and were known as “Nose Warmers”. The pipe in this fashionable work measures 8.5 inches, and possesses a small bowl- consistent with 1625.

The pipe tells us a lot. In the Netherlands, Dutch pipe expert, archeologist, and researcher Jan van Oostveen identifies the pipe as approximately the style of 1625-40. Stems could even sport a “fleur the lis”, although this one does not.

What Dutch painter created this sexy, 17th century “Pipe Smoker” ? The Utrecht School of painters was dominated by Dirck Van Baburen, Hendrick ter Brugghen, Gerrit van Honthorst, Hendrick ter Brugghen, Jan van Bijlert and Matthias Stom. All were in Rome about 1610 and were influenced by Caravaggio’s style.

Otto Naumann, honored Manhattan dealer specializing in 17th century Dutch art, believes its Dirck van Baburen. He specifically notes the craftsmanship of the hands. “These are the hands of the master,” he said. However, he also said he defers to Utrecht expert and Van Baburen authenticator, Wayne Franits. Professor Franits also looked at the “Pipe Smoker” and says its not by Van Baburen. Franits noted that there was a “Pipe Smoker” by Van Baburen documented in an 1676 inventory list…and is unaccounted for to this day. He also observed that the Utrecht School produced only 6, maybe 7, “Pipe Smokers”.

One technique employed by the Utrecht artists was the layering of glazes. When the first glaze was dry another layer of detail was painted on. Unfortunately, over 400 years the painting has been cleaned many times, and in the process, glazed sections may have been cleaned away. Maybe we will never know who the master was that painted this character.

Don’t let this opportunity go up in smoke. FOR SALE at Sothebys.

If you have any questions or need further information call Henry Kennedy at 732-303-1727 or email me. The Sothebys Old Masters auction of this painting “Pipe Smoker” is on Thursday June 8 and the work is featured in this linked promotional video.

http://www.sothebys.com/content/sothebys/en/news-video/videos/2017/old-masters-meet-the-streets.html

AUTHOR: henry kennedy
AUTHOR EMAIL: hfkpub16@aol.com
AUTHOR URL:
SUBJECT: [] About / Contact
IP: 173.70.214.222
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[1_Name] => henry kennedy
[2_Email] => hfkpub16@aol.com
[3_Website] =>
[4_Comment] => Share with associates, subscribers, members.

The foundations for the tobacco business were laid by the British. By 1550, every English town had its own clay pipe manufacturer. Tobacco was very expensive so in the beginning the pipes were small… 4-6 inches, and the earlier the pipe, the smaller the bowl. Early pipes possessed big bottoms- not for stability or resting on a table, but because they were easier to make. As the decades wore on, the refinements included longer stems containing smaller holes. By the 18th century fashionable pipe stems were 11.5 to 16 inches long; and curved! Pipes with broken stems continued to be smoked and were known as “Nose Warmers”. The pipe in this fashionable work measures 8.5 inches, and possesses a small bowl- consistent with 1625.

The pipe tells us a lot. In the Netherlands, Dutch pipe expert, archeologist, and researcher Jan van Oostveen identifies the pipe as approximately the style of 1625-40. Stems could even sport a “fleur the lis”, although this one does not.

What Dutch painter created this sexy, 17th century “Pipe Smoker” ? The Utrecht School of painters was dominated by Dirck Van Baburen, Hendrick ter Brugghen, Gerrit van Honthorst, Hendrick ter Brugghen, Jan van Bijlert and Matthias Stom. All were in Rome about 1610 and were influenced by Caravaggio’s style.

Otto Naumann, honored Manhattan dealer specializing in 17th century Dutch art, believes its Dirck van Baburen. He specifically notes the craftsmanship of the hands. “These are the hands of the master,” he said. However, he also said he defers to Utrecht expert and Van Baburen authenticator, Wayne Franits. Professor Franits also looked at the “Pipe Smoker” and says its not by Van Baburen. Franits noted that there was a “Pipe Smoker” by Van Baburen documented in an 1676 inventory list…and is unaccounted for to this day. He also observed that the Utrecht School produced only 6, maybe 7, “Pipe Smokers”.

One technique employed by the Utrecht artists was the layering of glazes. When the first glaze was dry another layer of detail was painted on. Unfortunately, over 400 years the painting has been cleaned many times, and in the process, glazed sections may have been cleaned away. Maybe we will never know who the master was that painted this character.

Don’t let this opportunity go up in smoke. FOR SALE at Sothebys.

If you have any questions or need further information call Henry Kennedy at 732-303-1727 or email me. The Sothebys Old Masters auction of this painting “Pipe Smoker” is on Thursday June 8 and the work is featured in this linked promotional video.

http://www.sothebys.com/content/sothebys/en/news-video/videos/2017/old-masters-meet-the-streets.html
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