Provenance research
Information about the provenance and context of an object or a piece of art – its previous owners and users, as well as the ways in which it has been used – is important and invaluable.
Information about the provenance and context of an object or a piece of art – its previous owners and users, as well as the ways in which it has been used – is important and invaluable. The more background information we have, the better we are able to describe the role of an object in people’s lives and utilise it more diversely in research, publications and exhibitions. However, gaining this information about early acquisitions may be particularly difficult nowadays, because the information may contain gaps or be hard to verify and validate.
Studies carried out abroad have long focused on the provenance of objects and artwork that changed owners e.g. after the Russian Revolution or between the two world wars. Furthermore, special emphasis has been placed on personal property of Jewish individuals confiscated by the National Socialists in Germany in 1933–1945.
Plenty of data that supports research is these days available online, but a particular hindrance to provenance research in Finland is the fact that most of the key source material is located abroad. Therefore, it is important to provide open online information about objects and artwork so that provenance researchers, in particular, working for museums and other organisations may be able to shed light on the origins and history of these items by utilising information provided by the Museum.
The National Museum of Finland mainly concentrates on recording cultural history and therefore does not collect old artwork from other countries. Most of the old European art, i.e. pieces by the so-called old masters, in the National Museum’s collections came from three private collections that the Museum received as donations.
Station manager K. E. A. Bergman’s (1868–1944) collection was catalogued into the National Museum in 1941. Bergman created his collection of antiques and art between 1895 and 1930, mostly through purchases from antique and art dealers in Helsinki, but the information about the objects’ previous owners was often lacking. Lawyer Eric Idestam’s (1900–1960) collection and engineer Albert Enckell’s (1883–1964) collection include art and antiques from Finland and abroad. Both men acquired artwork, mainly paintings, from other countries (Sweden, England and Russia). The collectors kept records on some of these works, but the details of how other items were acquired are unknown. Moreover, little or no provenance information exists about the majority of the pieces, but in this case that does not necessarily mean there is anything suspicious about their origin.
Brief general descriptions of the pieces belonging to Bergman’s, Idestam’s and Enckell’s collections, now housed in the National Museum of Finland, can be found on the National Museum’s website. High-resolution images are also being added to each piece via the Finna service as and when possible. The National Museum will be happy to receive any information about the pieces that can help shed more light on their history.
An illustrated list in pdf form of the works listed below can be downloaded here.
Please note that the artistic attributions are those given or used by the previous owners.
To search for any these works in the Finna database, you are advised to use the inventory number as a search term. You should add an “H” in front of the inventory number to facilitate the search. You can also refine the search by selecting the National Museum of Finland as the contributing museum.
Artist/attribution: Jacques d’Arthois (1613–1686), after.
Subject: Forest landscape.
Date: 1670’s.
Oil, canvas, 61 x 82 cm.
Provenance: Bought in Russia in the late 1920’s >Taidesalonki (Bäcksbacka), Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1936.
61100:475
Artist/attribution: Jacob Adriaensz. Backer (1608–1651), his circle.
Subject: Bacchus.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, panel, 71 x 55 cm.
Provenance: Taidesalonki (Bäcksbacka), Helsinki >Eric Idestam.
Deposited at the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Helsinki.
61100:860
Artist/attribution: Pompeo Batoni (1708–1787), after.
Subject: Martyrdom of St. Elisabeth.
Date: 18th c.
Oil, canvas, 50 x 37 cm.
Provenance: England >Albert Enckell.
65050:641
Artist/attribution: Pompeo Batoni (1708–1787), after.
Subject: The return of the prodigal son.
Date: ca. 1773.
Oil, canvas, 131 x 95 cm.
Provenance: Bought in St. Petersburg after 1917 >Albert Enckell.
The original by Batoni is at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna (Gemäldegalerie, inv. 148).
65050:655
Artist/attribution: Albert Nikolajevitš Benois (1852–1936).
Subject: Family walking in the Peterhof Palace Park near St. Petersburg.
Date: 1871.
Watercolour, paper, 27 x 32 cm.
Provenance: Jekaterina Nikolajevna Martinova 1871 (gift drom the artist) >? >K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1042
Artist/attribution: Abraham van Beyren (1620–1669)/Rachel Ruysch (1664–1750), copy after.
Subject: Still life of flowers.
Date: 18th/19th c.
Oil, canvas, 70,5 x 56,5 cm.
Provenance: Bought in the early 1920’s in Russia by antiquities dealer Valter Sjöberg, Helsinki >art dealer Bogomoloff, Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1942.
61100:465
Artist/attribution: Pavel Alexandrovitš Brjullov (1840-?).
Subject: A helmet.
Date: Late 19th c.
Pahvi, 23 x 15,4 cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
Deposited at the Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki.
61100:863
Artist/attribution: Ernest Borough Johnson (1866/7–1949).
Subject: Three women bobbing lace.
Date: ca. 1900.
Oil, panel, 25 x 35 cm.
Provenance: J. Mendelson [?], London, bought from the artist >? >Albert Enckell.
Marked at back: I guarantee this work to be an original by Borough Johnson. Bought directly from the Artist by me. J. Mendelson [?] 3 New […] W.C.1 London.
2013009:1 (65050:670)
Artist/attribution: F. W. Bunn (?).
Subject: Landscape from the Alps.
Date: 1869.
Oil, canvas, 43 x 26,5 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1050
Artist/attribution: Hendrick van der Burgh (1627–1664).
Subject: Landscape.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, panel, 29,5 x 39 cm
Provenance: Bought in the early 1920’s in Leningrad by antiquities dealer Valter Sjöberg, Helsinki >art dealer Bogomoloff, Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1938.
61100:467
Artist/attribution: Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610), after.
Subject: Lute player.
Date: 18th c.?
Watercolour, bone, 11 x 11 cm.
Provenance: Prince Demidoff at Tali Manor in the parish of Vyborg >Eric Idestam.
Copy after the original at the State Hermitage.
61100:479
Artist/attribution: Edwaert Collier (1642–1707).
Subject: Vanitas.
Date: 1661.
Oil, panel, 66 x 50 cm.
Provenance: Rapps Konsthandel, Stockholm >Eric Idestam, 1953.
Deposited at the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Helsinki.
61100:865
Artist/attribution: Jacques Courtois (Le Bourgignon) (1621–1776).
Subject: Cavalry battle.
Date: 18th c.?
Oil, canvas, 42 x 73 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:645
Artist/attribution: Gerard Dou (1613–1675), copy after.
Subject: Monk in prayer.
Date: 17th/18th c.
Oil, canvas, 31 x 25 cm.
Provenance: Bought in the early 1920’s in Leningrad by antiquities delaer Valter Sjöberg, Helsinki >art dealer Bogomoloff, Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1939.
61100:463
Artist/attribution: Jakob Dück (1600–1667).
Subject: Young officer.
Date: Mid-17th c.
Oil, panel, 33 x 25 cm.
Provenance: Christie’s, London, 1.7.1938, no. 42 >Louis Richter, London >Eric Idestam.
Deposited at the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Helsinki.
61100:862
Artist/attribution: Richard Earlom (1743–1822).
Subject: Seascape.
Date: late 18th c./early 19th c.
Watercolour, paper, 44 x 60 cm.
Provenance: Scheinin >Eric Idestam.
61100:483
Artist/attribution: Albert Edelfelt (1854–1905).
Subject: Old man.
Date: late 19th c.
Oil, canvas, mitat cm.
Provenance: Gift from Albert Edelfelt to the artist - - Krijtski (Kritsky?) >his widow >art dealer Solovjev [>?] >Albert Enckell.
65050:667
Artist/attribution: Maria Aleksejevna Feodorovna (1859–1934).
Subject: Lake landscape.
Date: ?
Oil, pohja, 38,5 x 28,5 cm.
Provenance: K. A. E. Bergman.
41001:1043
Artist/attribution: Frans (II) Francken (1581–1642).
Subject: Gallery interior with ”ânes iconoclastes”.
Date: early 17th c.
Oil, panel, 53 x 70,5 cm.
Provenance: Germany? >Russia [Volkonski/Boriatinski, Danilov/Durnovo/Vasiltšikov?] >? >Albert Enckell.
65050:650
Artist/attribution: E. Gerestov.
Subject: Academic study.
Date: 1852.
Oil, canvas, mitat cm.
Provenance: Russia? >Albert Enckell.
65050:660
Artist/attribution: Luca Giordano (1623–1705), kopio.
Subject: Psyche handed the dagger and a lantern by his sisters.
Date: 18th c.?
Oil, canvas, 57,5 x 70,5 cm.
Provenance: Dublin, Ireland >Albert Enckell.
65050:657
Artist/attribution: Jean-Baptiste Greuze (1725–1805), after.
Subject: Countess K. P. Stroganova with her son in front of the bust of Count Stroganov.
Date: ca. 1790.
Oil, canvas, 55 x 66 cm.
Provenance: Bought in Moscow >Albert Enckell.
65050:656
Artist/attribution: Adriaen Hanneman (1603–1671), his atelier.
Subject: Wilhelm (III) (1650–1702), Prince of Orange.
Date: ca. 1664.
Oil, canvas, 83 x 66 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:647
Artist/attribution: Alexander Keirincx (1600–1652)/Jacob Gerrits Cuyp (1594–1652).
Subject: Hunting scene.
Date: Mid-17th c.
Oil, panel, 32,5 x 52 cm.
Provenance: Professor Botkin, physician to Emperor Nikolai II >bought in the early 1920’s by antiquities dealer Valter Sjöberg, Helsinki >art dealer Bogomoloff, Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1939.
61100:459
Artist/attribution: Nicolaus Knüpfer (1603–1660).
Subject: Judith and Holofernes.
Date: Mid-17th c.
Oil, panel, 34 x 49 cm
Provenance: England >Strindbergin Taidesalonki (Art Gallery), Helsinki >Albert Enckell.
65050:646
Artist/attribution: Johann Baptist von Lampi the elder (1751–1830).
Subject: Portrait of a man (marked on the stretcher: Кн. Бо[г]рамион Худ Лампи).
Date: late 18th c.
Oil, canvas, 56 x 43 cm.
Provenance: Russia? >Albert Enckell.
65050:658
Artist/attribution: André Lanskoy (1902–1976).
Subject: People in an interior.
Date: early 20th c.
Materiaali, 80 x 54 cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
Deposited at the Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki.
61100:867
Artist/attribution: N. Medem (?).
Subject: Landscape.
Date: 1896.
Oil, canvas, 85 x 133 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1045
Artist/attribution: Paulus Moreelse (1571–1638)?
Subject: Portrait of a man.
Date: ca. 1620.
Oil, panel, 52 x 37 cm.
Provenance: Bonnelly? >Albert Enckell.
65050:648
Artist/attribution: Claes Cornelisz. Moyaert (1592–1655)/Hendrick Bloemaert (1601/2–1671), his circle?
Subject: Elderly woman.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, panel, 36 x 27,5 cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
61100:464
Artist/attribution: Gillis Neyts (1623–1687).
Subject: Landscape.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, panel, 27 x 36,5 cm.
Provenance: Gösta Stenman >sculptor [?Acke] Janson >bought from his son by Eric Idestam in 1955.
61100:460
Artist/attribution: Giuseppe Nogari (1699–1763).
Subject: Elderly woman.
Date: 18th c.
Oil, canvas, 50 x 45 cm.
Provenance: Louis Richter, London >Eric Idestam, 1950.
Deposited at the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Helsinki.
61100:864
Artist/attribution: Jacob (I) van Oost (1607–1671), after.
Subject: David and Goliath.
Date: 19th c.? (1840?) (academic study?).
Oil, canvas, 92 x 74,5 cm
Provenance: Russia? >Albert Enckell.
The original by van Oost (1643) is in the State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg (inv. ГЭ-676).
65050:661
Artist/attribution: Antal Petzely (1891–1963).
Subject: Man in an interior.
Date: early 20th c.
Oil, canvas, 50 x 60 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell, bought in Helsinki in the 1920’s or the 1930’s?
65050:669
Artist/attribution: Ilja Repin (1844–1930).
Subject: A barn.
Date: ?
Oil, cardboard, 14,5 x 27,5 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1039
Artist/attribution: Ilja Repin (1844–1930).
Subject: Portrait of a woman.
Date: 1915.
Watercolour, paper, 31 x 21 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1040
Artist/attribution: Ilja Repin (1844–1930).
Subject: Woman sitting on a couch.
Date: ?
Indian ink, paper, 30 x 20,5 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1041
Artist/attribution: Giulio Romano (1498–1546).
Subject: Cavalry battle.
Date: 18th c.?
Oil, canvas, 104 x 130 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
Marked at the back: N310214-20/VI 903
650500:637
Artist/attribution: Félicien Rops (1833–1898), inv., Antoine Bertrand (1823–18??).
Subject: Woman with a black hat.
Date: late 19th c.
Etching, paper, MITAT cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
Deposited at the Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki.
61100:866
Artist/attribution: Giuseppe Ruoppolo (1600–1659).
Subject: Still-life with fruit and a monkey.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, canvas, 95 x 130 cm.
Provenance: England >Louis Richter, London >Eric Idestam, 1939.
61100:470
Artist/attribution: Karl Borromäus Andreas Ruthart (1630–1680).
Subject: Fighting dogs and wolves.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, canvas, 72,5 x 96 cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
61100:462
Artist/attribution: Konstantin Apollonovitš Savitski (1844–1905)?
Subject: Elderly man.
Date: late 19th c.
Oil, canvas, 52 x 36 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:664
Artist/attribution: Gottfried Schalken (1643–1706).
Subject: A person lighting a lantern.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, canvas, 52 x 38 cm.
Provenance: Businessman Baron Nikolai Egorovitš Wrangell, St. Petersburg >Torsten Stjernschantz, Helsinki, bought from Wrangell in Leningrad in 1917 >Eric Idestam, 1939.
61100:472
Artist/attribution: Christian Georg Schütz (II) (1758–1828).
Subject: The Rhein near Schaffhausen.
Date: 1787.
Oil, panel, 37 x 50,5 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:653
Artist/attribution: Frans Fredrik Sedmigradsky (1783–1853), after Rembrandt.
Subject: Self portrait by Rembrandt.
Date: 1828.
Pastel, paper, 60 x 50 cm.
Provenance: Art dealer Ivar Hörhammer, Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1945.
Rembrandt’s original (ca. 1639) is at the Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.
61100:484
Artist/attribution: V. Sekov (?).
Subject: Portrait of a woman (marked at back: Княгина Орлова).
Date: ca. 1850.
Oil, canvas, 20,5 x 16 cm.
Provenance: Russia? >K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1033
Artist/attribution: Ivan Ivanovitš Šiškin (1832–1898).
Subject: Forest scene.
Date: 1892.
Oil, canvas, 29 x 38 cm.
Provenance: Russia? >K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1044
Artist/attribution: Vasili Sergejevitš Smirnov (1858–1890)?
Subject: Apollo and a river god, academic study?
Date: late 19th c.
Oil, canvas, 75 x 59 cm.
Provenance: Russia? >Albert Enckell.
65050:659
Artist/attribution: Pieter Mulier (II), il cavalier Tempesta (1637–1701).
Subject: Shipwreck.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, panel, 68 x 79 cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
61100:466
Artist/attribution: Pieter Mulier (II), il cavalier Tempesta (1637–1701).
Subject: Seascape.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, canvas, 85 x 155 cm (oval).
Provenance: Art dealer Ivar Hörhammer, Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1953.
61100:473
Artist/attribution: Lucas van Uden (1595–1673).
Subject: Landscape.
Date: 1648.
Oil, canvas, 83 x 137 cm.
Provenance: Louis Richter, London >Eric Idestam, 1953.
Deposited at the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Helsinki.
61100:859
Artist/attribution: Alonso Vázquez (d. 1637).
Subject: Still life.
Date: 17th/18th c.
Oil, canvas, 100 x 120 cm.
Provenance: England >Louis Richter, London 1939 >art dealer Ivar Hörhammer, Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1947.
61100:469
Artist/attribution: Esaias van de Velde (1590–1630), after.
Subject: Landscape.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, panel, 45 x 98,5 cm
Provenance: Strindbergin Taidesalonki (Art Gallery), Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1953.
61100:471
Artist/attribution: Jan Jansz. van de Velde (1620–1660), copy after.
Subject: Still life.
Date: 18th/19th c.
Oil, canvas, 19 x 26,5 cm.
Provenance: Louis Richter, London >Eric Idestam, 1953.
61100:468
Artist/attribution: Johann Rottenhammar (1564–1623).
Subject: “Triumph of Virtue”.
Date: 18th c.?
Oil, canvas, 43 x 34,5 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1037
Artist/attribution: Vasily Vereshchagin (1842–1904).
Subject: Military camp.
Date: late 19th c.
Oil, canvas, 34 x 70,5 cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
61100:482
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Portait of a man.
Date: 1826–1850.
Oil, canvas, 37 x 44,5 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1034
Artist/attribution: unknown (German).
Subject: Portrait of Hans Dietrich Löffelholz von Kolberg.
Date: 1561.
Oil, copper, 11 x 17,5 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1035
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Portrait miniature of a man.
Date: ?
Oil, panel, diam. 8,2 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1036
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Drunkenness of Noah.
Date: 19th c.?
Oil, panel, 26 x 47 cm.
Provenance: Art dealer (?) A. Fedorov >K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1038
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Inside of a stable.
Date: 19th c.
Oil, canvas, 36 x 44 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1046
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: People dressed in antique costumes.
Date: ?
Oil, canvas, 40 x 52 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1048
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Landscape.
Date: 19th c.
Oil, panel, 21 x 25,5 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1049
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Landscape.
Date: 19th c.?
Oil, panel, 21 x 25,5 cm.
Provenance: K. E. A. Bergman.
41001:1049
Artist/attribution: unknown (French?).
Subject: Portrait of a man.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, canvas, 54,5 x 39,5 cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
61100:461
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Young girl.
Date: 18th c.
Oil, canvas, 35,5 x 30,5 cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
61100:477
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Landscape. Detached from a drawer or a door of a cabinet.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, bone, fixed on panel, 5,5 x 11 cm.
Provenance: Russia >antiquities dealer Valter Sjöberg, Helsinki, early 1920’s >art dealer Bogomoloff, Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1938.
61100:478
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: White dog sitting on a blue pillow.
Date: ca. 1800?
Pastel, paper, ca. 18 x 23 cm.
Provenance: Nobel’s auction [Emanuel Nobel, St. Petersburg?] >antiques dealer >Eric Idestam, 1955.
61100:480
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Leda and the swan.
Date: late 18th c.?
Pastel, paper, 32 x 40,5 cm.
Provenance: Eric Idestam.
61100:481
Artist/attribution: unknown (Dutch?).
Subject: Trompe l’oeil.
Date: 17th c.
Oil, canvas, 52 x 53 cm.
Provenance: Strindbergin Taidesalonki (Art Gallery), Helsinki >Eric Idestam, 1953.
Deposited at the Sinebrychoff Art Museum, Helsinki.
61100:861
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Crucifixion.
Date: 16th c.
Oil, panel, 106 x 84 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:636
Artist/attribution: unknown (after Bassano?).
Subject: Shepherd.
Date: 18th c.?
Oil, canvas, 60 x 71 cm.
Provenance: Art dealer in St. Petersburg >Albert Enckell.
65050:638
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Adam (companion piece to 65050:640).
Date: 17th c.?
Oil, canvas, 115 x 100 cm.
Provenance: ”From a palace in Russia” >”itinerant art dealer”, Russia? >Albert Enckell, 1919.
65050:639
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Eve (companion piece to 65050:639).
Date: 17th c.?
Oil, canvas, 115 x 100 cm.
Provenance: ”From a palace in Russia” >”itinerant art dealer”, Russia? >Albert Enckell, 1919.
65050:640
Artist/attribution: unknown (Italian?).
Subject: Man with a lance.
Date: 17th c.?
Oil, canvas, mitat cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:642
Artist/attribution: unknown (Spanish?).
Subject: Man.
Date: 17th c.?
Oil, canvas, 102 x 87 cm
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:643
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: “Fields of Elysium”.
Date: 18th c.?
Oil, panel, 48 x 64 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:644
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: The judgement of Salomon.
Date: 17th c.?
Oil, canvas, mitat cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:649
Artist/attribution: unknown (Russian).
Subject: Christ crowned with thorns.
Date: 18th c.?
Oil? panel, 48 x 28 cm.
Provenance: Russia >Albert Enckell.
65050:651
Artist/attribution: unknown (Russian).
Subject: Portrait of a woman.
Date: late 18th c.
Oil, canvas, 69 x 52,5 cm.
Provenance: Russia? >Albert Enckell.
65050:652
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Man drinking wine.
Date: 18th c.?
Oil, brass, 26 x 18 cm.
Provenance: St. Petersburg >Albert Enckell.
65050:654
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Murder of the innocents?
Date: ?
Oil, canvas, 37,5 x 29 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:663
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Portrait of a monk.
Date: ?
Oil, canvas, 44 x 35 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:665
Artist/attribution: unknown.
Subject: Saint Varvara?
Date: 18th c.?
Oil, canvas, fixed on panel, 26 x 21,5 cm.
Provenance: Albert Enckell.
65050:666