The entrance gates to Huis ten Bosch, the front of the palace visible beyond with formal gardens along the drive,
bears signature lower right,
oil on canvas,
36.5cm x 47.5cm;
and the companion painting of the rear of Huis ten Bosch with figures and a cavalryman approaching the gates and a sentry beside his box (2)
Provenance: Almost certainly a gift from King Willem III to Henriette Elizabeth van Tuyll (nee Jochems), or to her mother, an intimate of the King and thence by descent in the van Tuyll family
Exhibited: According to an exhibition label on the reverse of both paintings "Tentoonstelling oude Kunst uit Haagsch Bezit, Gemeentemuseum, December 1936 - February 1937"
Literature: Marten Loonstra: "The Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in a historical view", published Amsterdam 1985, both paintings illustrated on the dust jacket and again on page 64
These important mid-18th century views of Huis ten Bosch have descended to Baron van Tuyll, latterly of Marsh Court, Caundle Marsh, Sherborne Dorset.
Although traditionally ascribed to La Fargue, Charles Dumas, who is compiling a catalogue raisonne, considers them to be the work of Johannes Merken (circa 1725-post 1756) and will include the paintings as such.
