Two rare paintings by Dutch Golden Age artist Nicolaes Eliasz. Pickenoy entered the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston at the end of 2024, La Tribune de l’Art reported.
The acquisitions include a large group portrait titled Les Fondateurs de la Guilde des marchands de vin d’Amsterdam and an individual portrait of the guild’s president, Willem Hendricksz. Christie’s London handled the private sale on behalf of a single private collection.
The two canvases had remained in the same family inheritance line for decades. A private collector in Johannesburg previously purchased the individual portrait in 1941 and the group portrait in 1949 from the Duits Gallery in London.
Both works entered South Africa carrying misattributions to Thomas de Keyser. The correct identification of Pickenoy as the creator only came to light later.
The museum plans to place the large group portrait at the center of a public conservation project. Beginning December 9, conservators will work on the canvas inside a temporary studio.
The pop-up workspace will operate for slightly more than one year. It sits inside the William A. Coolidge Gallery, which functions as the Center for Netherlandish Art’s gallery for innovative research.
That research center opened in 2021. Support from patrons Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo alongside Susan and Matthew Weatherbie made the gallery possible.
The upcoming conservation work receives financial backing from Meryl Beckingham. The Jane B. Mayer and Robert J. Mayer MD Conservation Fund also supports the project.
| Acquisition Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Artist | Nicolaes Eliasz. Pickenoy (1588-1650) |
| Group Portrait Dimensions | 131.3 × 221.9 cm (Painted in 1625) |
| Previous Attribution | Thomas de Keyser |
| Prior Ownership | Private collection, Johannesburg (acquired 1941 and 1949 via Duits Gallery, London) |
| Current Location | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
Museum announcements detail the initial steps for the paintings. Technicians will begin by cleaning surface dirt from the canvas surfaces before deeper restoration steps occur.
