Lot 535: Jacob de Wit Amsterdam 1695 - 1754 , A modello for a ceiling painting: the apotheosis of Flora oil on canvas

signed and dated lower left: Jdwit/ : 1738, oil on canvas

48 by 63 cm.

Recent Acquisitions, Rafael Valls Gallery, London 1990, under cat. no. 39, reproduced.

Anonymous sale, Amsterdam, Sotheby's, 14 november 1988, lot 212;
With Rafael Valls, London, by 1990.

The loose, but accurate brushstrokes and colourful touches in this modello are typical of De Wit's preparatory designs. Similar in subject and composition is the ceiling painting now in Huis te Manpad (photograph in the files of the RKD, The Hague).
Clearly visible on the present sketch are the outlined measurements for the ceiling, which the artist numbered with pencil and in red paint.