Circle of Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn

Private collection, England;

Possibly anonymous sale, London, Christie’s, 9 July 1923 (this and the above according to the certificate by W.R. Valentiner of 1932 listed in the 1934 sale catalogue) or anonymous sale, London, Christie’s, 27 July 1923 lot 101 (as follower of Rembrandt, Portrait of a Man, in a brown cloak, and a black cap with feather, with incorrect dimensions) or anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 8 July 1932, lot 132 (as follower of Rembrandt, Portrait of Rembrandt, in a dark cloak, with a gorget);

With R.H. Ward, London;

Private collection, Germany;

By whom sold, Berlin, Graupe, 25 June 1934, lot 72 (as Rembrandt);

Curt Elschner (1876–1963), Berlin and Eisenach;

By whom sold, Berlin, Lange, 4 July 1941, lot 60 (as Rembrandt);

With G. Stein, Paris, by 1945 and until circa 1946;

Where acquired by the grandfather of the present owner.

We are grateful to Dr Caroline Flick, who has conducted extensive research into the activities of the Berlin auction house Lange, for her help in elucidating the provenance of this lot. The picture is not recorded in any database of lost or looted art.