Lot 111: Hendrik van Steenwyck I (Steenwyck c. 1550-1603 Frankfurt am Main) or Hendrik van Steenwyck II

Hendrik van Steenwyck I (Steenwyck c. 1550-1603 Frankfurt am Main) or Hendrik van Steenwyck II (Frankfurt am Main c. 1580-1649 London)
The Vladislav Hall at the Castle in Prague
signed 'Steenw...' (lower right)
oil on panel
52.8 x 61.7 cm.

F. Hoeber, 'Deutsche Kunstmesse', Der Cicerone, pp. 11-23, 1919, p. 776, illustrated.

with W. Carl, Frankfurt am Main, 1919.
Anonymous sale; Frankfurt am Main, 21 May 1935, lot 60.

We are grateful to Mr. Jeremy Howarth, who on the basis of photographs and detailed enlargements of the signature, believes the present picture to be by either Hendrick van Steenwyck the Elder or Younger. Although there is no documentary evidence that either artist went to Prague, Steenwyck the Elder's mentors - Hans and Paul Vredeman de V ries - were there in the 1590s and it seems likely that both Steenwycks were also active there for a short time at the end of that decade. Another similar view of the hall, but with an entirely different arrangement of the figures and activities with it, is in the Martin von Wagner University Museum in Würzburg (reproduced in W. Martin, 'The Life of a Dutch Artist', in Burlington Magazine, September 1907, LIV, p. 362, fig. 4).

The old Prague castle, once seat of the Bohemian princes, regained its importance at the end of the 15th Century under the reign of Vladislav Jagiello. He renovated the castle and commissioned court architect Benedict Ried to construct the Vladislav Hall. This huge festive hall in a style with both Gothic and Renaissance elements, was situated in the centre of the building. It was used as a throne room, for banquets, councils, coronation feasts and with bad weather tournaments of chivalry were held.

Christie's charge a premium to the buyer on the final bid price of each lot sold at the following rates: 23.8% of the final bid price of each lot sold up to and including €150,000 and 14.28% of any amount in excess of €150,000. Buyers' premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.