ATTRIBUTED TO THE PSEUDO-ROESTRATEN (ACTIVE ENGLAND

PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF LORD JOHN KERR (lots 14-23)

Sero Sed Serio

Lord John Kerr (1927-2018), the great grandson of the 7th Marquess of Lothian and brother of the 12th, was born at Melbourne Hall, Derbyshire, and educated at Ampleforth. He joined the Scots Guards in 1944, serving mostly in Singapore as ADC to Lord Killearn, the Special Commissioner in South-East Asia. On completing his National Service he went up to Christ Church, Oxford, where he read English. After a brief spell at Lloyds of London, he embarked on his career in rare books by joining the distinguished antiquarian bookseller E.P. Goldschmidt and Co. In 1958 he bought the Oxford book and print shop, Sanders of Oxford. Six years later in 1964 Sotheby's recruited him to run their book department, a post he occupied with great distinction for the next 18 years. During his time with the company he presided over the sale of many great books and collections, and gained the trust, esteem and affection of colleagues and clients alike. In 1982, with two other ex-Sotheby’s colleagues, Frank Hermann and David Stagg, he launched Bloomsbury Book Auctions, the first new book auction house in London for 150 years. They believed that there was a place in the auction world for a firm dealing with lesser value, but still interesting books. Private Eye got wind of the venture and ran a story, perhaps unduly emphasizing the piratical nature of the enterprise, describing Lord John, the company's chairman, as ‘wily one-legged admiral long John Kerr’. Warmly welcomed by the book trade, the easy and informal style of the new venture, combined with the professionalism of its specialists made it a very satisfactory place to deal with, and work within. On his retirement from BBA in 2002, in recognition of his many talents and wide sphere of influence Lord John was the recipient of an impressive Album Amicorum with contributions by friends and colleagues past and present.

PROPERTY FROM THE ESTATE OF LORD JOHN KERR

THE PSEUDO-ROESTRATEN (ACTIVE ENGLAND, LATE 17TH CENTURY)
Still Life with a lute on a table top
Oil on canvas
183 x 114cm (72 x 44 3/4in)

Inscribed with the Lothian Newbattle Abbey inventory number 515 lower left

Provenance:
Newbattle Abbey, Midlothian

The Pseudo Roestraten, whose true identity is yet to be established, was so named by Fred Meijer, on the basis of the obvious stylistic affinities he shares with Pieter Gerritsz. van Roestraten.

We are grateful to Fred Meijer, of the RKD, The Hague, for confirming this as a work by the Pseudo-Roestraeten.