Anthonie Palamedesz, 1601 Delft – 1673 Amsterdam,... Lot n° 412

THE COURTLY HOUSE CONCERT Oil on canvas. 51.5 x 74.5 cm. The Scottish-born portraitist and genre painter is primarily known for his society pieces, which mostly document festive events. His portrait art may have led to his being in demand for group pictures in which portraits are also to be assumed. These include quite a few depictions of house concerts. This is also the case here, where Palamedesz has placed a lady in a blue silk dress playing the harpsichord in the center of the picture, accompanied by a cellist. Two other figures appear to be singers. A gentleman behind the lady raises a glass and, like her, looks towards the viewer, while another couple sits at a table on the left. This picture is therefore probably also to be understood as a painted memory of a musical festival event. The painter grew up with his brothers in Delft, where the family had moved from Scotland. He was taught by Hans Jordaens and above all by the portraitist Michiel van Mierevelt. The latter had already created group portraits with his anatomy lessons, which may have had an influence on Palamedesz's work. At the age of twenty, he became a member of the painters' guild, where he later rose to the rank of dean. His works can be found in numerous important public collections and museums. A.R. (1401197) (1) (11) Anthonie Palamedesz, 1601 Delft - 1673 Amsterdam, attributed COURTLY HOUSE CONCERT Oil on canvas. 51.5 x 74.5 cm.