ABRAHAM MIGNON (1640–1679)
A cockerel, a partridge, powder horns, a kingfisher and song-birds hanging in a niche, with a cobweb, a snail and insects
Provenance
Count Lothar Franz von Schönborn (1655 – 1729), Schloss Weissenstein, Pommersfelden, Germany, by at least 1719;
By descent within the collection of the Counts of Schönborn, Schloss Weissenstein, Pommersfelden, Germany, until:
Their sale, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 17 – 24 May 1867, lot 263, 3700 francs to Moreau;
William Ward, 11th Lord Ward and, from 1869, 1st Earl of Dudley (1817 – 1885), Dudley House, Park Lane, London, by 1868;
By whom sold, London, Christie's, 7 April 1876, lot 105, 'A chef-d'oeuvre [A masterpiece]', 41 guineas to Waters;
Probably acquired by Sir Francis Cook, 1st Bt. (1817 – 1901), Doughty House, Richmond, Surrey;
By descent to his son, Sir Frederick Cook, 2nd Bt. (1844 – 1920), Doughty House, Richmond, Surrey, by at least 1914;
By descent to his son, Sir Herbert Cook, 3rd Bt. (1868 – 1939), Doughty House, Richmond, Surrey;
By descent to his son, Sir Francis Cook, 4th Bt. (1907 – 1978), Doughty House Richmond, Surrey; Cothay Manor, Somerset; and Jersey;
By whom sold, London, Sotheby's, 25 June 1958, lot 100, where purchased by Agnews on behalf of a private collection;
By whom sold (‘The Property of a Gentleman’), London, Christie's, 21 April 1989, lot 9, where purchased by a private collection, USA;
By whom sold (‘Property from an Estate’), New York, Sotheby’s, 15 January 1993, lot 91, where purchased by a private collection, Europe;
From whom acquired by the present owners.
Literature
Katalog der gräflich von Schönborn'schen Bilder-Gallerie zu Pommersfelden, Würzburg 1857, p. 44, cat. no. 309;
P. F. Gwinner, Kunst und Künstler in Frankfurt, Frankfurt 1862, p. 202, cat. no. 9b;
R. N. James & L. Lefèvre, National Exhibition of Works of Art, exh. cat., Leeds 1868, cat. no. 833 (as Melchior d'Hondecoeter);
J. O. Kronig, A Catalogue of the Paintings at Doughty House, Richmond, and Elsewhere in the Collection of Sir Frederick Cook, Bt., II, London 1914, p. 59, cat. no. 288;
U. Thieme & F. Becker, Allgemeines Lexikon der bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, 37 vols., Leipzig 1930, vol. 24, p. 548;
M. W. Brockwell, Abridged Catalogue of the Pictures at Doughty House, Richmond, Surrey, in the Collection of Sir Herbert Cook, Bart., London 1932, p. 85, cat. no. 288;
Royal Academy of Arts, Winter Exhibition, 1952 – 3: Dutch Pictures 1450 –1750, exh. cat., London 1952, p. 54, cat. no. 263;
Graves Art Gallery, Dutch Masterpieces, exh. cat., Sheffield 1956, p. 9, cat. no. 31;
M. Kraemer-Noble, Abraham Mignon: 1640 – 1679, Leigh-on-Sea 1973, pp. 30-1, cat. no. A64, pl. 17;
R. Bys & K. Bott, Fürtrefflicher Gemähld- und Bilderschatz: die Gemäldesammlung des Lothar Franz von Schönborn in Pommersfelden, Weimar 1997, p. 26, cat. no. 59;
M. Kraemer-Noble, Abraham Mignon 1640 – 1679: catalogue raisonné, Petersberg 2007, p. 254, cat. no. 102, reproduced in black and white on p. 255.
Exhibitions / Fairs
Leeds, National Exhibition of Works of Art, 1868, Gallery C, no. 833, lent by William Ward, 1st Earl of Dudley (as Melchior d'Hondecoeter);
London, Royal Academy of Arts, Winter Exhibition, 1952 – 3: Dutch Pictures 1450 –1750, 22 November 1952 – 1 March 1953, Gallery V, no. 263, lent by Sir Francis Cook, Bt., and The Trustees of the Cook Collection;
Sheffield, Graves Art Gallery, Dutch Masterpieces, 3 March – 5 April 1956, Exhibition Loan Hall, no. 31, lent by Sir Francis Cook, Bt., and The Trustees of the Cook Collection.
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