AMSTERDAM.- Sotheby’s Amsterdam will hold the Old Master Paintings sale on November 14. An intriguing Vanitas Still-life commemorating the life of the Dutch Prince Willem II of Orange (1626-1650) by Edwaert Collier (Breda circa 1640 – 1708 London) is one of the highlights of the Old Master Paintings sale at Sotheby’s Amsterdam on Tuesday 14 November 2006. The painting shows several books including a copy of Joost van den Vondel’s Geboorteklok (celebrating the Prince’s birth in 1626), a globe, a Dutch flag, a musical score, musical instruments and other items. An inscription on a leaflet writes WILHELMUS BY DER/GRATIE GODTS. PRINCE VAN OR/AENGIEN. GRAVE VAN NASSAU.& C/MARQUIZ VAN VEERE EN VLISSINGE/ BARON VAN BREDA. GOUVER/NEUR OVER GELDERLANDT / HOLANDT / ZEELANDT / WEST.VRIESLANDT &C GENERAEL/VAN DE RUYTERYE/1632. Not much is known about the artist 'Edwaert Colyer' who later anglicised his name to Edward Collier. Born in Breda, circa 1640, Collier's earliest known work is dated 1662. He was a member of the St Luke's Guild at Leiden and of the Haarlem Guild. Many of Collier's Vanitas and trompe l’oeil paintings include English texts and seem to have been painted for the English market. Later Collier moved to London where he died in 1708. Collier’s still life on panel of 99.4 by 122.8cm is estimated €100.000 -150.000.

A Vanitas by Jan Davidsz de Heem (1606-1683) pictures a pewter platter, with a half peeled lemon, two oyster shells on top of each other, a bunch of black grapes with its foliage, a lobed silver tazza, and a silver-gilt columbine cup and cover. De Heem, one of the greatest Dutch painters of still-lifes, was born in Utrecht but later moved to Antwerp. His flower still-lifes are exquisite examples of Flemish Baroque art and helped to form a link between the Flanders and Netherlands Schools. The oil on panel, signed JDHeem F is estimated €60.000-80.000.

David Teniers II (Antwerp 1610- 1690 Brussels) was married Jan Brueghel I’s daughter Anna. Teniers was extremely productive and had very good relationships with Antwerp art dealers. Especially his rustic genre scenes made him famous and were greatly prized. His Interior of an Inn with an amorous couple now on offer is estimated €80.000-120.000. The Dordrecht painter Abraham van Calraet (1642-1722) signed many of his paintings with the monogram AC that were considered to indicate the work of Aelbert Cuyp. In the present day Van Calraet is recognised as one of the 17th century’s leading painters of cattle and horses. On offer in this sale is a View in Dordrecht with the Appelmarkt with the Oude Haven and the Nieuwbrug by Van Calraet (€50.000-70.000).

Although greatly admired by 19th century artists such as Johan Barthold Jongkind, Aert van der Neer (c.1603-1677) was relatively unknown in his own time and his landscapes did not bring in much money. To make ends meet he became the landlord of a wineshop in the Kalverstraat in Amsterdam, 'De Graeff van Hollant'. Van der Neer’s Townview in winter by moonlight is now offered with an estimate of €30.000-40.000 Joost Cornelisz. Droochsloot (Utrecht 1586 – 1666) specialised in large historic paintings but later also made representations of the events of the day and of farmers’ scenes. On offer is now a Street scene with soldiers overtaking the village, an oil on canvas of 82 by 150 cm, signed and dated lower centre: JC. Drooch Sloot, 1642 (€20.000-30.000). The historical Landing at Sheerness by Michiel Adriaensz de Ruyter was depicted by J.A. Beerstraeten (€35.000-45.000).

Preview of Old Masters from London and New York: During the viewing days of the sales of Old Master Paintings and Drawings in Amsterdam, there will be a preview of selected Old Master Paintings from the important sale in London in December 2006 and a selection of Old Master Paintings and Works of Art from the Naumann Collection to be sold at Sotheby’s New York in January 2007. One of the highlights from another collection is an oval Portrait of a young woman in a cap by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (1606-1669), to be sold in New York.