Lot 159: Portrait of Jan de la Bassecourt (1696-1753), half-length, in a gold brocaded waistcoat and blue coat, standing near a table with a book

Harmen Serin (Ghent 1678-1765 The Hague)
Portrait of Jan de la Bassecourt (1696-1753), half-length, in a gold brocaded waistcoat and blue coat, standing near a table with a book
oil on canvas
86.4 x 66.5 cm.
with the coat-of-arms of the sitter (upper left) with inscription on reverse 'Carel de la Bassecourt. H. Serin fecit in 1749.'

Caan van Neck family, Cromvliet estate, Rijswijk.

On occasion, Christie's has a direct financial interest in lots consigned for sale which may include guaranteeing a minimum price or making an advance to the consignor that is secured solely by consigned property. This is such a lot. This indicates both in cases where Christie's holds the financial interest on its own, and in cases where Christie's has financed all or a part of such interest through a third party. Such third parties generally benefit financially if a guaranteed lot is sold successfully and may incur a loss if the sale is not successful.
Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €5,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €5,001 and €400,000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €400,000. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.
Jan de la Bassecourt was said to be the Dutch financial genius of his time. He started his career as a lawyer of the West-Indian Company and later became Pensionary of Amsterdam and even Thesaurier-General of the States-General which is in today's terms comparable to the post of Minister of Finance.

The artist Harmen Serin was born in Ghent but was mostly active as a portrait painter in The Hague. He is said to have been a pupil of Erasmus Quellinus II.