Hendrick van Balen d. J., 1623 – 1661 Lot n° 197

CERES AND VENUS AS AN ALLEGORY OF AUTUMN Oil on canvas. Doubled. 117 x 171 cm. In ebonized profile frame. Accompanied by a copy of an expertise by Philippine Motais de Narbonne, who attributes the present painting to Hendrick van Balen. In large format, the two allegorical figures, one depicted frontally and one as a back figure, amidst a landscape with fruit and grain and a quiver of arrows and Cupid respectively, with Bacchus held by putti in the background. Note 1: Another Venus Ceres group is registered at the RKD in The Hague under no. 114770. Note 2: Another similar painting was offered with an estimate of 100,000-200,000 euros in 2022 at the Schlosser auction house with an expertise by Dr. Ertz as Hendrick van Balen the Younger and Jan Brueghel the Younger, so that a collaboration with Jan Brueghel the Younger - if - also appears possible for this work. A painting by van Balen and Jan Brueghel the Younger was also sold at Dorotheum in Vienna on October 17, 2012 for 303,000 euros including buyer's premium. (1400491) (13) Hendrick van Balen the Younger, 1623 - 1661 CERES AND VENUS AS ALLEGORIES OF AUTUMN Oil on canvas. Relined. 117 x 171 cm. In ebonized, moulded frame. Accompanied by an expert's report by Philippine Motais de Narbonne, who identifies Hendrick van Balen as the creator of the present painting, in copy.