Lovely genre scene in a interieur with old female friends was executed by renowed Dutch painter Gerke Henkes (1844 - 1927). Pupil of J.Spoel in Rotterdam and at the Antwerpen Art Academy, undertook study travells to Germany, Paris, settled 1869 in Hague, later in Voorburg.painted, influanced from Israels and Bosboom, interiors and genre works, especially with fine humor treated small-town types ("Old maids at coffee talk"; "Chronique scandaleuse"). First success in 1870 brought him his "Knit school", shown in Paris and Brussels, it was purchased for the Museum Mesdag in The Hague, which still owns five other paintings by Henkes. Her other works situated in Museum Groningen, Hague City Museum, Henkes exhbited his works regulary in "Glaspalst" in Munich (1879-1913). For price records for paintings of Henkes see sale by christies Amsterdam: Titel Un sauvetage: A rescue at the Paviljoensgracht, The HagueMedium oil on canvas Maße Höhe 34,6 in.; Breite 62 in. / Höhe 87,9 cm.; Breite 157,5 cm.Bez. SignedVerkauft durch Christie´s Amsterdam: Dienstag, 26. Oktober 2004 [Lot 00183]19th Century European ArtSchätzpreis 20.000 - 30.000 EUR (25.220 - 37.831 USD)Verkaufspreis 47.800 EUR (60.277 USD)

Literature : Thieme/Becker "Allgemeines Kuenstlerlexikon", Leipzig, 1999.

Inscription: signed and dated (18)81 lower left.

Technique: oil on canvas, original period gilt frame.

Measurements: image w 24 1/2 " x h 20 1/2 " (62 x 52 cm), framed 36 1/4" x 32 1/4" (92 x 82 cm).

Condition: in good original condition, canvas not relined, no inpaintings.