18TH C. ARNOLD BOONEN DOUBLE PORTRAIT. Early 18th century. Oil on linen, relined on canvas. This is a double portrait of Susanna Catharina van der Spelt (nee Pels) and her young daughter Johanna Maria van der Spelt. The closed robe dress worn by Susanna has a buckle that was made before 1730; the fontage bonnet shown was fashionable from 1690 to 1710 and in all appearances the figures are fashionably dressed as would befit the daughter and granddaughter of a wealthy Amsterdam trader of French wine and salt, Jean Lucas Pels. This painting has remained in the family for over two hundred years. The artist Arnold Boonen (1669-1729) was born in Dordrecht, Holland but worked in Germany in the early part of his career. He arrived in Amsterdam in 1696 and painted the wealthy and those in public office. The house and landscape in the background are typical of Boonen's elegant style that merges with the pastoral. There are three labels verso that read "X1248," "Susanna Pels, Huysvrow van Henric Vander Spelt," and "Susanna Catharina van der Spelt geb. Pels, baptized 10 September 1693, buried 19 (illegible) 1760, Johanna Maria van der Spelt, baptized March 1716, buried October 1733, Attribute to Arnold Boonen." Call Dargate for more genealogical information pertinent to the provenance of this painting. Size: 25" h., 20" w., framed 32" h., 27" w. Condition: two specks of paint have been inpainted; relined a long time ago, the stretchers are die stamped "J Walker, Liner." Estimate: $10000-18000