ATTRIBUÉ À GERRITSZ. VAN ROESTRAETEN Haarlem, 1627 - 1698, Londres

Portrait of Charles II (1630-1685) and silverware on an entablature Canvas 64.2 x 72 cm - 24 1/4 x 28 3/8 in. Portrait of Charles II (1630-1685) and pieces of silverware on an entablature, canvas According to art historian Jean-Baptiste Descamps (1714 - 1791), the Dutch painter Roestraten, a pupil of Frans Hals (1580-1666), was a trained portraitist. On his arrival in England in 1666, Roestraten was warmly welcomed by Peter Lely (1618 - 1680), court portraitist to the King of England. However, this enthusiasm quickly dissipated when Sir Lely feared that Roestraten's talent would threaten his position as favorite portraitist at the court of Charles II (1630-1685). To alleviate this eventuality, Lely is said to have made an arrangement with the Dutch painter, allowing him to retain exclusive rights to portraits in exchange for Roestraten's freedom to explore all other artistic genres, with Lely's support in promoting his merits at court. Thus, Roestraten flourished in his Covent Garden studio, close to Peter Lely's, specializing in still lifes embellished with goldsmith's pieces, in the spirit of our painting. Indeed, we find here his model of the silver bowl characteristic of the early reign of Charles II, which he reproduced in several compositions, notably in the one sold on May 18, 2006 by Sotheby's New-York (Lot no. 7).