Lot 34: Franz Kessler , Wetzlar circa 1580 - circa 1650 Danzig Portrait of Man, aged 38, in a black costume and wide Ruff, leaning on a table; Portrait of a lady, aged 25, in black and gold embroidered costume, wide ruff and lace bonnet, her hand resting on

Portrait of a Man: inscribed and dated upper left: A o 1.6.32 / AET . 38 ( AET in ligature) and inscribed upper right with the monogram of the sitter's family. Portrait of a Lady: inscribed and dated upper right: A o 1632 / AET . 25 a pair, oil on panel Quantity: 2

measurements note the first: 39 by 28 1/4 in.; 99 by 71.7 cm.; the second: 39 by 28 1/2 in.; 99 by 72.4 cm.

Franz Kessler was a student of Gortzius Geldorp and spent most of his career in Cologne, where he made a living painting portraits of the wealthy citizens of Cologne and neighboring cities. Kessler's portraits, many of which date to the 1620s, may be found in the Szépmüvészeti, Budapest, and the Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne. Another handsome double-portrait of a husband and wife is in the collection of the Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Each of these portraits, like the present, are dated and inscribed with the sitter's age, and often times, with the monogram or shield of the sitter's family.

We are grateful to Dr. Rudi Ekkart of the Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie, who, based on photographs, has attributed the present portraits to Franz Kessler.