Attributed to Thomas de Keyser (Amsterdam (?) 1596/7 - 1667 Amsterdam), Portrait of Jan Bruyn

inscribed and dated middle left ANO 1636. / AETA 34 and inscribed on the piece of paper Eru... in D... / Jan Bruijn ... / Tot... / Amsterdam / p...t. oil on panel. 28 by 21 1/4 in.; 71.1 by 54 cm. Estimate 20,000—30,000 USD

PROVENANCE: With Asscher & Welcker, London, circa 1925 (as by Thomas de Keyser);
With Vermeer Gallery, London, 1928 (as by Thomas de Keyser);
With Agnews, London 1936 (as by Thomas de Keyser);
Anonymous sale, Lucerne, Galerie Fischer, November 24, 1951, no. 2639 (as Thomas de Keyser);
Private collection, Basel;
With Johnny van Haeften, London, by 1992 (as Thomas de Keyser).

NOTE: The present portrait reveals the influence that the work of Rembrandt had on the style of Thomas de Keyser and other portrait painters active in Amsterdam in the seventeenth century. For example, the way the sitter holds the letter here is the same way that Nicolaes Ruts holds his letter in Rembrandt's famous portrait, now in the Frick Collection, New York, acc. no. 1943.1.150.

Sotheby's. Important Old Master Paintings, Including European Works of Art. 29 Jan 09. New York www.sothebys.com photo courtesy Sotheby's