Lot 104: DAVID CORNELISZ. DE HEEM

DAVID CORNELISZ. DE HEEM ANTWERP 1663 - BEFORE 1714 THE HAGUE A STILL LIFE OF OYSTERS, GRAPES, CHERRIES, ROSES, CORN, SNAILS, A MELON AND A SILVER SUGAR SHAKER ON A STONE PLINTH signed lower right: C.DE HEEM F oil on canvas 65.3 by 53 cm.

Although clearly signed C. de Heem, from a point of view of style and handling, according to Fred G. Meijer, of the R.K.D., The Hague, it is more likely that this is the work of his son David rather than that of Cornelis de Heem himself. However, father and son most probably shared a studio in The Hague around the time when this painting originated (c. 1685-90) and it may well be that Cornelis also signed the more succesful products of his son. This certainly explains the curious overlap between the work of Cornelis and David de Heem, in which one can find still lifes by apparently the same hand signed C. de Heem one time and D. de Heem the other. Moreover, apart from the initials, the calligraphy of both signatures is virtually identical. See for example that sold, London, Sotheby's, 8 July 1981, lot 109, signed C. de Heem, together with its pendant, but which must also be regarded as by his son, David.