Jan 28, 2026 10:00 EST
Old Master Paintings / Silver / English & Continental Furniture
9
Attributed to Matthäus Merian
From the Collection of Alfred H. Barr Jr.
Anthropomorphic Landscape
Inscribed Meriani (ll)
Oil on panel
13 x 16 1/4 inches (33 x 41.4 cm)
Frame 19 x 22 1/2 inches (48.3 x 57.2 cm)
Provenance:
Private Collection, Austria, before 1930
Purchased from an art gallery in Bad Gastein, Austria, in the summer of 1930 (per Alfred H. Barr, Jr., personal letter to Helen Franc of Magazine of Art, October 27, 1949)
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred H. Barr, Jr., New York
Given by Margaret Scolari Barr (Mrs. Alfred Barr, Jr.) to her daughter Victoria Barr in 1984 (per Margaret Scolari Barr, personal letter to "David," October 23, 1985)
Estate of Victoria Barr, New York
Literature:
P. Wescher, The Magazine of Art, 43 (1950) 1, pp. 3ff.
Benno Geiger, I Dipinti Ghiribizzosi di Giuseppe Arcimboldi, Pittore Illustionista dl Cinquecento 1527-1593 (Florence, 1954), pp. 41, 146; illus. pl. 19.
Exhibited:
Indianapolis, The John Herron Art Museum, Pontormo to Greco: The Age of Mannerism, a Loan Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings of the Century 1520-1620, February 14- March 28, 1954, no. 46 (as "Tradition of Giuseppe Arcimboldo")
Wellesley College Museum of Art, Exhibition of Landscape Paintings, Spring, 1956, no. 12 (as "Tradition of Giuseppe Arcimboldo")
New York, Wildenstein Gallery, Masters of Seven Centuries, March 1- 31, 1961, no. 14 (as "Matthieu Merian")
Anthropomorphic Landscapes--imaginary views of natural scenery that appear to resemble the faces of people--were much in vogue in European art during the 16th and early 17th centuries. When the present painting was first discovered by Alfred Barr, Director of the Museum of Modern Art, in 1930, it was thought to be by the Italian Mannerist artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593). However, when the work was cleaned and restored in 1954, the inscription Meriani came to light. This discovery indicated that it might be by the Swiss engraver Matthäus Merian (1593-1650). Indeed, it was soon noticed that the painting's composition is a variant, in reverse, of the composition of an engraving by Merian, Anthropomorphic Landscape, 4 3/8 x 6 15/16 inches (11.1 x 17.0 cm) (Wüthrich 576 II; Hollstein 405). This inscription, together with the close relationship of the compositions of the painting and the print, suggests a strong possibility that the painting served as a preliminary sketch for Merian's engraving.
Sold for $8,960
Estimated at $3,000 - $5,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
From the Collection of Alfred H. Barr Jr.
Anthropomorphic Landscape
Inscribed Meriani (ll)
Oil on panel
13 x 16 1/4 inches (33 x 41.4 cm)
Frame 19 x 22 1/2 inches (48.3 x 57.2 cm)
Provenance:
Private Collection, Austria, before 1930
Purchased from an art gallery in Bad Gastein, Austria, in the summer of 1930 (per Alfred H. Barr, Jr., personal letter to Helen Franc of Magazine of Art, October 27, 1949)
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred H. Barr, Jr., New York
Given by Margaret Scolari Barr (Mrs. Alfred Barr, Jr.) to her daughter Victoria Barr in 1984 (per Margaret Scolari Barr, personal letter to "David," October 23, 1985)
Estate of Victoria Barr, New York
Literature:
P. Wescher, The Magazine of Art, 43 (1950) 1, pp. 3ff.
Benno Geiger, I Dipinti Ghiribizzosi di Giuseppe Arcimboldi, Pittore Illustionista dl Cinquecento 1527-1593 (Florence, 1954), pp. 41, 146; illus. pl. 19.
Exhibited:
Indianapolis, The John Herron Art Museum, Pontormo to Greco: The Age of Mannerism, a Loan Exhibition of Paintings and Drawings of the Century 1520-1620, February 14- March 28, 1954, no. 46 (as "Tradition of Giuseppe Arcimboldo")
Wellesley College Museum of Art, Exhibition of Landscape Paintings, Spring, 1956, no. 12 (as "Tradition of Giuseppe Arcimboldo")
New York, Wildenstein Gallery, Masters of Seven Centuries, March 1- 31, 1961, no. 14 (as "Matthieu Merian")
Anthropomorphic Landscapes--imaginary views of natural scenery that appear to resemble the faces of people--were much in vogue in European art during the 16th and early 17th centuries. When the present painting was first discovered by Alfred Barr, Director of the Museum of Modern Art, in 1930, it was thought to be by the Italian Mannerist artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593). However, when the work was cleaned and restored in 1954, the inscription Meriani came to light. This discovery indicated that it might be by the Swiss engraver Matthäus Merian (1593-1650). Indeed, it was soon noticed that the painting's composition is a variant, in reverse, of the composition of an engraving by Merian, Anthropomorphic Landscape, 4 3/8 x 6 15/16 inches (11.1 x 17.0 cm) (Wüthrich 576 II; Hollstein 405). This inscription, together with the close relationship of the compositions of the painting and the print, suggests a strong possibility that the painting served as a preliminary sketch for Merian's engraving.
Painted on an approximately rectangular panel with an irregularly cut lower edge and four horizontal splits, these reinforced with blocks inset on the back and two added strips of wood. The panel is unbeveled, the back coated with a shiny, dark brown varnish, which has been striated, apparently by hand with a tool, in a pattern of narrowly set shallow grooves. This unconventional finish and the irregular cutting of the lower edge suggest that the maker of this panel was not a trained professional in his craft.
The paint surface is pitted with several gouged-out small holes, the largest of which are near the lower right and lower left corners. There is also a 3-cm-long (1 1/8-inch-long) scratch in the paint surface in the Iower left quadrant. There are areas of old restoration throughout.
Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and our Organization shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available.
Auction: Old Master Paintings / Silver / English & Continental Furniture, Jan 28, 2026
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Miniature Work by Giacomo Guardi Leads Sale of Old Master & 19th Century Paintings, Drawings & Prints on January 28, 2026
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
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We Invite You to Contact Us for a Complimentary Auction Evaluation of Your Collection
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle’s auction of Old Master & 19th Century Paintings, Drawings & Prints on January 28, 2026 delivered some exceptional results amid international bidding. The sale presented works spanning the 16th through 19th centuries, including portraits, still lifes and landscapes, along with religious, historical and mythological subjects.
The star of the Old Master paintings was a very fine miniature architectural view by the Venetian artist Giacomo Guardi (1764–1835), after a much larger work by his illustrious father, Francesco Guardi. Showing an intriguing view of a small city square from the shadows of a Renaissance arcade, this delightful gem measuring 5 1/8 x 3 15/16 inches sold for $14,080, a surprising price for a miniature work.
Also featured was Anthropomorphic Landscape attributed to Matthäus Merianthat, which realized $8,960. Anthropomorphic landscapes--imaginary views of natural scenery that appear to resemble the faces of people--were much in vogue in European art during the 16th and early 17th centuries. When this painting was first discovered by Alfred Barr in 1930 it was thought to be by the Italian Mannerist artist Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593). However when the work was cleaned and restored in 1954, an inscription attributing it to the Swiss engraver Matthäus Merian (1593-1650) came to light. It was soon shown that its composition is closely related to an engraving of a similar anthropomorphic landscape created by Merian in 1624, which suggests that it may have been the artist’s preliminary sketch for that work.
Old Master prints were highlighted by four hand-colored engravings by Basilius Besler (1561–1629) from Hortus Eystettensis (The Garden of Eichstätt), which sold for $10,240. Published in 1613, Hortus Eystettensis is a landmark botanical masterpiece, featuring hundreds of finely detailed engravings that document the extensive gardens of Prince-Bishop Johann Konrad von Gemmingen in Bavaria.
Additional Categories in the Sale
Special sections of the sale also showcased English & Continental Silver (Read More) on Wednesday, January 28 and English & Continental Furniture & Decorative Arts (Read More) on Thursday, January 29.
We Invite You to Auction!
Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.
