A satire on auctions set in a sale room at night the scene in lit by three smoking candles on a trident held up by a man with the head of an ape wearing fur clothing, seen from behind. On the right the auctioneer, with the head of a fox, on his podium holds up his hammer as he conducts the sale of a picture featuring three peasants drinking and the monogram hk (presumably standing for heemskerck). This is held up by a porter with the head of an ass wearing a medal round his neck on which is written "charitable corporation". Below the auctioneer is a table on which is a flask and pieces of jewellery; a picture frame and a chest with more jewellery and pieces of lace are propped against the table. On the right, a gentleman with a lion's head, holding a purse, reads a catalogue list. A servant with the head of a stag stands beside him, and a lawyer with the head of a wolf slips his hand into the gentleman's pocket. On the left, an ape holds a sword to the throat of an artist who holds brushes and palette but is unperturbed by this treatment and also fails to notice that a little monkey has his hand in his pocket. Behind him stands a man holding the unframed portrait of a woman; further back is a large bull-headed man, a monkey waving a paper and a bottle, a man with a sheep's head and another with that of a goat. A cat- headed woman peers at a paper being read by an old man with a goat's head. On the walls hang three large paintings by "ostard", "van dyke" and "van velde", a long dagger and two watches, a looped curtain hangs from the ceiling. C. 1730
etching and engraving. Date: circa 1732. Dimensions: Height: 375 mm; Width: 309 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: Anthony van Dyck. Collection: British Museum. Print, satirical print (BM 1866,0407.56)
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