Follower of Sir Anthony van Dyck - Portrait study of Saint Francis of Assisi.

PROVENANCE

Charles Comte de Choiseul, Duke de Praslin, probably at Chateaux Vaux-Le-Vicomte;

Private Collection, England;

Christie’s, London, 22 April 1998 (lot 25) - sold for £3,220;

Private Collection, Sussex

Oil on canvas, measuring 43 x 31 cm.

For sale is a very fine study by a follower of Van Dyck depicting the head of Saint Francis taken from the artist’s large altar piece of the crucifixion at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk church in Dendermonde.

Remarkably, the work was once in the great collection of the Comte de Choiseul-Praslin who was one of the most famous art collectors in France and whose home was the chateaux Vaux-Le-Vicomte, today regarded as one of the most important Chateau in France.

There are two other known inferior works after van Dyck’s Saint Francis, one is in the Museum Catharijneconvent in Utrecht, the other is in the King’s Royal Collection and currently hangs in Hillsborough Castle.

The picture is beautifully framed in a classic wooden frame with gilt details and is ready to hang, it has a wonderful presence.

I can ship worldwide, please let me know if you have any questions!