painting (oil): ["River Scene with Boats and Figures"]

, Between 1984 and 1985, a research assistant, Dr. Brendan Cassidy, was employed by Nottingham Castle Museum to research and write a catalogue of the foreign oil paintings in their collection. The catalogue never materialised, but drafts and notes relating to Cassidy's research can be found in the Artist Files and in the Archive at the museum. All references to Cassidy relate to these documents. The inscription found at lower left is thought to be false. It was documented in 1913 as "A.V.D.N.", but only the letters "V.D.N." can now be seen. This inscription is very unusual for Aert van der Neer, who signed his work using double monograms (see Benezit). Correspondance in the Artist File for NCM 1904-102 draws attention to the irregularity of the inscription, but comments on the quality of the composition. (Letter dated 19 November 1966 to Eric Laws (NCM curator) from John Vicars, Brands House, High Wycombe): "…The Picture looks genuine enough to me, though the initials might be dubious, as it is rare for the double mongram not to be used…The sense of distance and cloud effect are very much in the hand of the Master. The boat load on the right is very similar to the characters on one of my own van der Neers". Cassidy c.1984 suggested the attribution, "Imitator of Aert van der Neer" for NCM 1904-102, but I think an attribution closer to Aert van der Neer and near or contemporary with him is more likely. On the front: The paint is a little worn at the edges, especially on the left edge, where it has apparently been re-touched. The surface is covered with thick, yellowed varnish. The inscription at lower left (only "V.D.N." can be seen) shows off-white and is probably overpaint. On the reverse: The edges of the panel are champfered; this is usually held to be a sign of authenticity. 1. NCM accession number(s) 2. Paper with printed artist name, title and catalogue number: "VAN DER NEER, 117. River view, with boats and figures - moonlight" (This is from either the 1906 or the 1913 catalogue of the permanent collection) There is a condition report for NCM 1904-102, dated 26 July 1984 from Jesse Bruton Picture Restoration, Wolverhampton. The report states that the panel was found to be copiously overpainted to disguise defects and it was noted that some of the drawing had been strengthened. The initials at lower left were thought to be suspicious because the paint had been disturbed and painted over. Suggested treatment included removing the thick layer of discoloured varnish and overpainting and infilling paint loss. Judging by the content of the report and my own findings, it is unlikely that any restoration work was carried out. Virag 19/12/2004, Collection of Richard Godson Millns.